Fishing with the Fly 



Take your rod from the case, attach' your single-action reel 

 to the butt of the rod on the same side as the guides, in such 

 a position that with the reel on the under side of the butt the 

 handle will be at the right hand. Join the tip and the middle 

 joint together, keeping the guides of both in line, pressing the 

 ferrules gently together, avoiding a twisting motion which is apt 

 to injure the rod; then bring the second joint and butt together in 

 the same manner. Draw 3 or 4 yards of line from the reel and 

 thread it through the guides and tip. Attach the free end of 

 your line to the upper leader loop with a knot as indicated in 

 illustration (i). The advantage of this knot lies in the fact that 



I Knot for attaching leader to line for fly-fishing. 



any amount of tension on line or leader will serve only to draw 

 it more tightly, but a slight pull on the loose end (A) will at 

 once release the knot. Make an assortment of three flies, using 

 dark or dull coloured flies for bright days or shallow water and 

 bright gaudy flies for dark days or deep streams. Pass the loop 

 of the fly snell over the leader loops, then bringing the body of 

 the fly through the latter. The leader should be moist and pliant 

 before using; otherwise it will snap when casting and your flies 

 will either decorate some nearby tree-top or sail down the stream 

 entirely unconnected with the rest of your tackle. For casting 

 from a boat or on a comparatively open stream the ordinary over- 

 hand cast which is the simplest may be used. Hold the butt of 

 your rod in your right hand with your reel underneath. Strip 

 sufficient line from your reel to enable your end or dropper fly 

 to come to the butt of your rod. Hold the hook of your dropper 

 fly in the left hand, pulling it backwards on a line with, and 

 sufficient distance below the butt of your rod, to bend the tip in 

 a half circle. Hold your rod almost horizontally, with a slight 

 upward inclination to the tip. Release the dropper fly. The 

 spring of the rod tip will cause the line to spring forward its 

 full length and the flies to light on the water. With the thumb 



xliv 



