SUPPLEMENTARY IN THE MATTER OF FLIES 27 



help the fly to swim correctly in the water, with 

 the weight of the straight, unsnecked, round-bend 

 hook as the counterpoise to the parachute action 

 of the wings. 



My own belief is that wet flies tied on gut swim 

 better and hook better than those tied on eyed 

 hooks. As the drying action of casting is reduced 

 to a minimum, they are not so ready to go at the 

 neck as when used as dry flies ; but if the angler 

 prefers it, there is no reason why he should not use 

 eyed hooks, though snecked bends of any kind and 

 upturned eyes are deprecated. Down-eyed hooks, 

 round, unsnecked, square-bend, and Limerick, in 

 the order named, are recommended. 



When immediate sinking in rather fast water is 

 required, additional weight can be got by tying 

 on a second hook, and making the fly what is 

 technically known as a " double." These are 

 more easily tied on gut than on eyed hooks, 

 though there is a maker who supplies eyed hooks 

 for doubles in sizes Nos. i, o, and 00, one packet 

 containing the eyed hook, and the other the 

 shorter-shanked companion hook to be lashed on. 

 In either case the hooks have to be separated with 

 the thumb-nail, so as to stand at an angle of 

 45 to 60 degrees before using. Lest it should be 

 suggested that these double hooks, fished wet, lend 

 themselves to a form of snatching, let me say that 

 I can only recall a single instance of a trout being 

 hooked on a wet double otherwise than fairly in 



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