As newcomer to the Salmon Fly game, I have had considerable difficulty in locating "old" or "real" gut and then trying to figure out how to use it. While I continue to search for "authentic" gut, I am using surgical gut given to me by fly fishing doctor and surgeon friends. They seem to have lots of samples and throwaways. Just ask for sizes "2", "1", "0" and "00", preferably without the needles attached. These sizes are well suited for a wide range of hook sizes and make a pretty good looking eye loop. Surgical gut sure beats monofilament as a substitute for the old stuff. By the way, don't worry about the surgical gut being sealed in alcohol or dried out. I let it dry before I start to use it.

Step 1: Get to ten inch saucepans. Pour some water in one saucepan and bring it to a boil. Place several ice cubes in the other saucepan and cover the cubes with cold water. Make sure the water gets icy cold. Have both pans close to one another. Step 2: Cut three 6 inch strands of "0" surgical gut and bundle them together with the ends even. Clamp a hemostat in each end, making sure the three strands are straight and bundled tightly together. (The diameter mentioned above is for hook sizes 5/0 and larger. For smaller hooks you should choose a smaller diameter.) The six inch length is enough to make two eyes.

Step 3: Now twist the gut strands together with the aid of the hemostats until they attain a tight rope-like appearance. Continue to hold the twisted strands straight and tight between the hemostats. Submerge them in the boiling water for about ten seconds. Then quickly take them out and dip them in the ice water for thirty seconds or longer. Continue to hold them straight during the entire process.

Step 4: Remove the strands from the ice water with hemostats still attached and drape them over a chair, or whatever, to dry. The dangling hemostats will provide a sufficient pressure to prevent any unraveling until the twisted gut is dry.

Step 5: For instructions on mounting the gut on blind eye hooks, refer to any of the old guys, i.e. Kelson, Pryce-Tannatt, etc.

Future Step: I am trying to figure out how to change the natural buff color of the surgical gut to light green or dun like the original gut. Hot dye baths cause surgical gut to become "fat rubber bands." Suggestions ???

- Dennis Trudeau