110 THROWING THE FLY. 



I shall now canvass some of the doctrines of 

 authors who have professed to teach "the young 

 idea how to fish," which I think questionable, 

 and which appear calculated to mislead, if they 

 be not decidedly erroneous. For instance, Messrs. 

 Shipley and Fitzgibbon, whose work is rather 

 recent, and in some respects not devoid of merit, 

 say,* " The beginner should commence learning 

 to cast the fly, having the wind on his back." 

 This, I must tell you depends on the force of the 

 wind. If it be great, it is then easy enough to 

 cast the fly forward, — but one is never more likely 

 to whip off* flies; because its force prevents the 

 line becoming fully extended behind ; nor will 

 it alight softly, unless he contrive to let it blow 

 full out, and then, by lowering the point of the 

 rod, allow the fly to fall of its own weight ; 

 which requires some experience. To a beginner 

 my advice is, to throw rather across the wind, 

 than directly with it, whereby he is more likely 

 to avoid both these misadventures. Again,! they 

 tell the beginner to practise with his reel-line ; 

 but such a course is sure to wear out the loop, 

 by constant whipping, and at the same time 

 teaches nothing — throwing the reel-line alone 

 being very diff"erent to having the gut attached, 

 — something akin to learning to swim before ven- 



• p. 75. t Id 



