ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING IN RIVERS AND LAKES. 83 
above process ; but as skill is acquired, the fly-fisher will 
soon learn to cast the flies either over the right or left 
shoulder with one or both hands, and from any position. 
“Switching” is another most useful method of cast- 
ing, as by it water otherwise inaccessible, owing to trees 
or banks, can often be fished satisfactorily. 
The modus operandi is as follows :— 
By raising the rod to the full stretch of the arms 
the flies are drawn in until they are nearly below the 
angler’s feet. Then with a very sudden, strong, circling 
movement of the rod they should be cast straight out 
again, up, down, or across, and the first process repeated. 
“Switching” requires practice, but it is well worth the 
trouble of learning. 
As a tule the best mode of fishing rivers is to cast 
down and across the current, beginning under the further 
bank if possible, and ending under the near one. In 
spite of Mr. Stewart’s able advocacy, most anglers have 
now arrived at the conclusion that fly-fishing wp stream, 
always, or even generally, is a mistake in practice. In 
my general observations on fly-fishing I have pointed out 
one or two of the reasons which led me to consider it so 
in theory also. With a strong wind up stream it is 
sometimes a necessity, though, even then, I cannot but 
think an unfortunate one. 
