373 FLT-FISHING. 



of the fly used iu the ordinary manner he will take 

 no notice. This method of managing the line is 

 impossible in long casting, but on dark days and at 

 favorable times it must not be neglected. 



The hackles are not suited to very fine waters. 

 They are diflicult to cast to a distance, especially 

 when three are on the line, and in clear ponds such 

 an apparition would frighten the trout from their 

 "feed" at once. But in a boisterous, roaring, 

 foaming mountain cataract, where the fish cannot 

 see the fisherman at all, and find difficulty in seeing 

 their prey, hackles and palmers are admirable. 

 Winged flies have largely taken the place of both 

 these species in American fishing, but their true 

 value should not be underestimated, for they will 

 often tempt the trout from the wild mountain 

 streams when the former will fail. 



As to the selection of the gut for trout-fishing, the 

 same principles apply. It must be tapered down 

 to the fineness of a No. 8 needle, should be wholly 

 unstained, and even uncolored, and hard, round and 

 transparent. The use of gut, even for the common- 

 est fishing, will be found an immense advantage, 

 and will add greatly to the bag, or, more correctly, 

 to the "pot." 



At the contests spoken of above, there were trials 

 of skill in casting fbr salmon with the fly, as well as 

 for striped bass in the fashion necessary along the 

 ocean coast. In salmon-casting, a hundred and 

 thirty feet was the limit, while for bass the long- 

 est distance covered was less than two hundred 



