170 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME, 



blotting- i);iper to drain Avhile breakfast is ])oing eaten. A fly treated 

 in this manner will continue to float bone dry nntil it is worn out or 

 the day's fishing is over. 



Another very useful thing to have at the waterside is a piece of 

 amadou. This substance, which looks like leather, is a fungus that 

 has the property of rapidly absorbing moisture. If the fly is very tvet 

 it can be pressed between a folded piece of amadou and nearly all 

 the moisture is removed. 



But all said and done, most of the drying out of a fly is done by 

 switching or casting the fly back and forth in the air. Anybody who 

 is able to throw a fly can in a very short time learn how to do this 

 without snapping off his fly. 



The first thing to remember is that the fly should not be thrown at 

 the water. Learn how to cast the fly so that all the impetus imparted 

 to the line is used up by the time the fly is still above the surface of 

 the water, and allow the fly to fall of its own weight on the water. 



Now, when this feat can be accomplished with ease, instead of 

 letting the fly fall on the w^ater, make a backward stroke similar to 

 that which is made when picking the line and fly off the water; this 

 will extend the line behind. A series of three or four of these back- 

 ward and forward strokes (which are called false casts) are made 

 between each true cast, and this action called "drying the fly" is the 

 principal thing that differentiates between wet and dry-fly fishing. 

 Of course, there are other things to be taken into account, about which 

 I hope to say more at some later date, but the whole secret consists 

 of being able to throw the fly backwards and forwards in the air 

 without permitting it to touch the water in front or the ground 

 behind. When that can be done the major part of the art is concjuered. 



In actual practice the false casts will be made at an elevation 

 corresponding roughly to the top of the rod, whether the overhead 

 or horizontal cast is being used. 



I strongly advise the beginner to commence his dry-fly fishing with 

 hackle flies, for the following reason : A hackle fly, having no wings, 

 is always "cocked up"; whereas, a winged fly should float with its 

 wings standing up in the air, and placing such a fly on the water 

 properly "cocked up»" does not come to one overnight. But as soon 

 as the beginner becomes proficient in putting a hackle fly lightly on 

 the water he can switch to the winged variety and note results. If 

 the fly persists in floating on its side, i.e., with one or other wing 

 in the water, it shoAvs that there was too much force used in making 

 the cast; because the fly, instead of falling of its own weight onto the 

 surface, was propelled thereon, with sufficient force to topple it over 

 on its side. As time goes on, however, the fly will more often fall 

 correctly and float lightly on the surface with an extraordinary 

 resemblance to the natural insect. 



Do not become discouraged if you do not become an expert dry-fly 

 fisherman in a few days. Have patience and be persevering and in a 

 sui'prisingly short time, all things considered, you will find yourself 

 accomplishing things you once considered almost impossible. The 

 great test of the art is to be able to tell Avhen a fly is dry or otherwise, 

 by the feel of the line when making the false or drying casts. When 

 you can do tliis your novitiate is in the past. 



