14 WET OR SUNK FLY-FISHING, 



of siglit by throwing a long line ; but this should 

 only be resorted to when all other resources fail. 



MANAGEMENT OF LINE. It is further of great 

 importance that the flies should be allowed to 

 float naturally down with the current. Any 

 motion of the rod or dragging of the line, which 

 causes a disturbance on the surface of the water, 

 should be carefully avoided. As a rule, it is 

 better to allow the flies, especially if spiders are 

 used, to sink a little, as when this is done the 

 trout seem less able to detect the deception. 

 When they are rising freely to the natural insect, 

 however, it is often profitable to keep the flies 

 on the surface. This can be accomplished by 

 casting frequently, and by raising the point of the 

 rod as the line floats towards the angler. 



In fly-fishing it will be found that a large 

 proportion of the trout which rise escape some 

 without even touching the hooks, others after 

 nothing more than a gentle pull. This is to 

 some extent unavoidable, but the number of cap- 

 tures may be increased by using the shortest line 

 consistent with the necessary concealment, by 

 quick striking, and by keeping the line as straight 

 as possible from the point of the rod to the flies. 

 If the angler be striking from the reel, he may, 

 if the trout are not hooking well, try the experi- 

 ment of keeping his finger on the line, and we shall 

 be surprised if the result do not convert him to 



