10 



NORTHERN FISHES 



in such a way as to make the fish think it is natural food and uncon- 

 nected with a line. For dry-fly fishing always cast upstream so that the 

 fly can float downstream in a natural manner. Try to drop the fly on 

 the water so that it will fall lightly. The art of fly casting is not as 

 complicated as it seems, but depends largely on practice. Holding the 

 rod in front, strip off ten or twelve feet of line with your left hand, and 

 then quickly raising the rod cast the line behind you. As the rod 

 reaches a vertical position, hesitate long enough for the line to 

 straighten out behind you. Then cast forward, stripping out more line 



They start young and begin with the cane pole. 



with the left hand. If you do not have the desired amount of line out 

 as the lure reaches the water, cast it back again and repeat until you 

 have sufficient line to allow your lure to drop in the water where you 

 want it. The important rule is not to allow the rod to go back any 

 great distance past a vertical position, and to allow sufficient time for 

 the line to straighten out behind but not enough for it to drop into a 

 bush or the water. If the line is not allowed to straighten out, the lure 

 is liable to be whipped off. Many fishermen advocate using the motion 

 of the right forearm and wrist, holding the elbow close to the body, but 

 others achieve successful casting with the open arm movement. 



Bait casting involves the use of a short and relatively heavy rod 

 and the casting of heavy plugs and other lures which are then reeled 



