Silk- Wqkm Gut. 223 



that there will be then three strands (instead of two), pre- 

 sented for tying, each about two inches long — two of the 

 strands forming the loop ; now tie the knot in the manner 

 as shown in the illustration referred to, and draw tight. 

 This will leave two short ends on one side of the knot, and 

 a loop on the other ; the former are to be clipped off short. 

 This loop should point toward the reel end of the leader, 

 or away from the stretcher fly, in order that the drop fly 

 when attached may stand at a right angle to the leader, and 

 thus prevent it becoming curled around it, when wet. 



A very good plan of making leaders is that used by some 

 anglers, who tie the gut strands together in lengths of 

 three feet, with loops at each end. Two of these lengths 

 can be looped together for a six-foot leader. The flies can 

 also be attached to these looped ends very easily. In this 

 way a number of casts can be prepared, which may be used 

 as found necessary. If the angler in using, say, a leader 

 of six feet made in this way, with the stretcher and drop- 

 per flies attached to the end loops of the lower three- 

 feet length, it will readily be seen how easy it would he to 

 change the cast by simply " unlooping " the leader in the 

 middle, and looping on another three-feet length — with 

 flies already attached — as before. It will also be seen 

 how easilj' a leader can be repaired in the same manner, by 

 discarding the broken or frayed portion and replacing it 

 with another three-feet length. 



In testing the strength of leaders for black bass fishing, 

 the angler shoiild be very careful not to apply a force or 

 weight of more than two' or three pounds, which is xeally 

 more than it will require in actual fishing, and is all the 

 strain a leader can be put to without injury. Silk-wcirm 

 gut, is always weakened when tested to the breaking point, 

 or one of six or more pounds ; thus, a leader that hreaks at 



