CHAPTER VII 



DRAG AND DROPPER FLIES 



A METHOD of fishing which was first suggested 

 by a guide has often proved effective when every 

 other means have failed. There are some kinds of 

 water and conditions of weather and season in 

 which it seems the only way to catch many salmon. 

 As it is good sport I often practice it, to the great 

 surprise of regular guides who never have seen it 

 at all. 



I equip the leader with a fine end about four 

 feet long and on the end of this I tie an old fly 

 which is worthless and has the hook broken off. 

 Where the regular leader ends and the fine part 

 begins I put a dropper fly on about three inches of 

 gut. The fly is oiled like a dry fly. For this pur- 

 pose any good-sized fly can be used; a Rube Wood 

 seems very good but a gray hackle works well or a 

 brown hackle. I suppose I prefer the Rube Wood 

 because of my recollections of the great day's 

 sport I have had with it, used in this way. 



For this kind of fishing rapid rippling water is 

 necessary. The best place is at the head of the 



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