2i6 Book of the Black Bass. 



called a " hackle," or, more correctly, a " palmer." It 

 must be borne in mind in this connection that an artificial 

 fly, when wet, presents a much different appearance from 

 the same fly when dry, and our flies should be tied with 

 reference to this contingency. 



The term " hackle "" is likely to cause some confusion in 

 the mind of the new hand, if not explained, for it is sus- 

 ceptible of several meanings as used by anglers and fly- 

 tyers. The proper meaning of the word is a "feather" 

 from the neck or saddle of the cock, and known as a 

 "neck-hackle," or a "saddle-hackle," as the case may be. 

 These hackle-feathers are used to imitate the legs or feet 

 of an artificial fly; and as one variety of fly consists only 

 of a body with a hackle wound spirally aroimd this body, 

 from one end to the other, this form of fly has come to be 

 known, in this country at least, as " a hackle," though, as 

 stated before, the proper name is " pabner," and it is de- 

 signed to imitate a caterpillar, for it is only a body bristling 

 with "legs." 



Then there is the " hackle-fly," which is a fly with body 

 and, perhaps, a tail, and in addition a hackle-feather tied 

 on at the shoulder, to represent the legs. Some salmon 

 flies have, in addition to wings, tail and feelers, the entire 

 body wound with a hackle, like a palmer. This is known 

 as a " combination-fly," and, like all salmon flies, does not 

 pretend to imitate any thing in nature. 



The conventional "fly," or, properly, the winged fly, is 

 the one most generally used. In addition to a body, legs 

 and tail, it has a pair or two of wings, tied on in various 

 positions, flat, cocked, spht, etc. 



It is not my intention to give any instruction in the art 

 of fly-tying, nor do I deem it at all expedient, for it is an 

 art that can not be taught by written directions, without 

 the aid of explanatory cuts and diagrams, and even then 



