TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



with the fly cocked, it is at once apparent that the most 

 important element in this method of fishing must be *'the 

 casting of the fly*' because **the playing of the fly is en- 

 tirely eliminated" as its movement on the water is caused 

 or should be caused solely by the current. 



In order that the dry-fly can take its proper course 

 down a stream like the natural fly the angler is obliged to 

 have his line slack after the cast is made; otherwise he 

 will not be fishing properly, and will have to contend with 

 what the dry-fly men call the "drag." 



The striking, hooking, playing and landing of a trout 

 in no way differ from the methods employed when hand- 

 ling the wet-fly. 



The conditions governing the efficient use of the dry- 

 fly are three : weather, wind and water. To practice this 

 art of fishing with even a fair chance of success, favor- 

 able conditions must first exist, and over these three con- 

 ditions the angler has no control. 



Is It not, then, a fair statement to make that the appli- 

 cation of the art of dry-fly fishing is necessarily restricted, 

 to some extent, as to time and place on account of physical 

 conditions? 



One of the strong claims made for dry-fly fishing is 

 that, with this method of fishing, trout can be caught in 

 certain waters, when the conditions are right, because 

 they have become "educated" to the ordinary fly and the 

 wet-fly method fails of success, and this is a proper and 

 just claim. 



Si 



