CH. IV.] FISH SLOWLY HAIE. 63 



it which cannot but frighten the fish. Although 

 small fish will take a fly under such circumstances, 

 as, like kittens, they will run at almost anything 

 which passes rapidly by them, yet it is rarely 

 that a steady old Trout can be induced to do so. 

 It is even more essential, when fishing with a 

 "dry fly," to leave it almost entirely to its own 

 devices, as it will thus float much longer than 

 it would if interfered with, and its movements 

 unnaturally hastened. These observations do not 

 apply with equal force to the bob-fly, which, tra- 

 versing the surface of the water (as its name im- 

 plies) with a succession of dips or bobs, might 

 be taken by Trout for the natural insect. Steady 

 fishing will however be found more successful 

 even with the bob-fly. In casting generally, 

 straightness of line is in my opinion the first 

 point to be aimed at, and lightness the second. 

 Both however are most essential. It should be 

 a rule never to fish with a yard more line than 

 is absolutely necessary. 



In some very fine, clear water, Trout can be 

 taken with a hair casting-line, when it would be 

 almost useless to fish with one of gut. I found 

 this to be the case on the Wharfe, where the 

 tackle ordinarily used consists of a hair casting- 



