TROUT-FLIES. 97 
lard, generally), set nearly back to back, and pointing 
upwards and outwards ; and secondly, its body, which is 
composed almost entirely of materials unabsorbent of 
water, such as mohair and hackles. 
The method of using the dry-fly on the Stour and a 
few other rivers, where its use is best understood, is very 
peculiar. A large fish, say, is known to inhabit some par- 
ticular hole or eddy. The spot is watched by the angler 
until he sees the fish rising, and then the fly is cast so as 
to fall a foot or two above him, and allowed to float (dry) 
passively over him. On the fly becoming wet, which 
happens after every cast, it is dried by being rapidly 
thrown to and fro, or “spread” in the air, when it is ready 
for another cast ; but this is seldom made until the rise 
of a fish is seen, or his haunt known. Some fishermen 
who use the dry-fly consider it is not properly dried 
without a little crack or “ flick” taking place at the 
end of the spread; but this “flick,” though doubtless 
very artistic, often whips off the fly. A stiff rod with a 
tolerably pliant top is the best for the purpose. The dry- 
fly being presented to the fish in the same way as the 
natural fly, is most killing when the particular natural fly 
imitated (which is commonly the May-fly) is on the water. 
Smaller flies are made, but it is found difficult in prac- 
tice to “float” them ; and, indeed, the whole process is 
cumbersome, and is only worth practising on rivers 
where the fish are very large and wary, or cannot be 
taken in any other way. 
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