CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 115 



Towist: Why, the fly is floating with its wings up in the air just 

 like the real thing. How did you do that 1 



Angler : Now wateh me make a cast. lustead of making the backward 

 and forward strokes in a vertical plane, that is, the overhead cast which 

 we used with the grasshopper fly, I make the strokes in a horizontal 

 plane, which throws the line out sideways, and the fly curves around 

 and for a moment the line, leader and fly are motionless over the water ; 

 then they fall gently, and the fly falling by its own weight naturally 

 assumes an upright position and floats with its wings 'cocked up.' 



Tourist: Why won't the overhead cast do that as well as the hori- 

 zontal cast? 



Angler: Because, no matter how carefully we cast, there is always the 

 chance that the line will still have some slight momentum left in it 

 from the cast; this motion, no matter how slight, may be enough to 

 topple the fly over on its side. On the other hand, the horizontal cast 

 throws the line out over the water, the line becomes extended and for 

 a fraction of a moment all mpvement ceases, then gravity begins to 

 act and the fly falls very lightly on the surface, as you have seen. 

 Now come and try to do as I did. 



Tourist : Let me see you do it again. All right, now let me have a 

 try. 



Angler: Try and see how close you can make your fly come to that 

 little bit of rush that shows above the surface. , You overshot the mark 

 that time; the fly curled round too far. 



Tourist : What made it do that ? 



Angler: You put just a trifle too much force into the cast. Try 

 again. 



Tourist: It was way this side of it. I guess I didn't cast quite hard 

 enough that time. Ah! That is better. You try again. 



Angler : This cast is much harder to do accurately than the overhead 

 cast, but when you once learn it well, it is astonishing how simple it 

 becomes. 



Tourist : Why, the fly fell within three inches of the rush ; I wish I 

 could do that. 



Angler: You will soon pick up the knack with practice, but watch 

 this cast. This is the back-handed cast. It is the same as the horizontal 

 cast only is made on the left hand side. The stroke somewhat resembles 

 a back-handed stroke at lawn tennis, hence its name. It looks difficult, 

 but comes just as easy as the other with practice. 



Tourist: Well, here comes the machine, and I must thank you for a 

 most enjo3^able and instructive day. 



Angler: I am glad you got some benefit from my teachings, and I 

 hope you will become a highly proficient dry-fly man in the years to 

 come. 



Tourist : It certainly is a great sport. It has added to the charm of 

 fly-fishing in a w^ay that I thought hardly possible. I should like you 

 to meet the rest of my party. 



Angler: I will come over to the hotel after supper, about eight 

 o'clock, but you had better take these fish, as there is just a chance that 

 your crowd have not caught anything up at Pine Lake ; even if they 

 have, stream fish are always better eating than lake fish. 



Tourist : Thanks very much. I have been hungry for trout for some 

 tinle. Well, so-long till this evening. 



