98 Fly-MsMng for Moths, ('iivpt. vn 



may as well mention that the general idea is, that you should not 

 • haw your fly with a steady pull through the water, but with a 

 succession of little jerks, with slight pauses between, so as to give it 

 a shrimp like motion, the theory being that with every jerk the 

 feathers will be compressed against the hook, and with every pause 

 they will spread out again, thus making a greater show, and giving 

 an appearance of life to the fly, an appearance of kicking out for a 

 swim. That is, I believe, the theory and the general practice, but I 

 may be allowed to add I do not believe in it. I believe the con- 

 stant twitching only disturbs the water, and tends to frighten the 

 fish, and the uneven motion of the fly increases the risks of the fish 

 missing your fly when he rises at it. My way is to be careful to 

 throw a perfectly straight line, and then to keep it just taut and no 

 more, drawing my fly steadily and as slowly as possible, sometimes 

 not drawing it at all, but letting it swing round with the stream, 

 varying the throw and the draw so as to cover all likely water. 



Mind you do not pull too fast. Many a fish will not be troubled 

 to rise at a fly that passes him in too much of a bustle. Possihlv 

 it may have passed him before he has well seen it, or even if he has 

 seen it, it is in too much of a hurry for him ; he is not inclined to 

 rush after it and scramble for it with his next door neighbour, who 

 is just as wide awake as he is. Be that as it may. work your fly 

 slowly: more fish are killed thus than by quick fishing, and less 

 fish rise short. 



And as to that much disputed question the striking of a Salmon 

 or Mahseer, whatever rule you accept in one case, is equally 

 applicable in the ether. My plan is to strike as quick as lightning 

 with a trout, but with a Salmon or a Mahseer, not at all. If your 

 line is thrown straight and always kept taut, as it should be, you 

 will feel a Salmon or Mahseer, and no mistake, when lie lias your 

 fly well in his mouth ; you need not watch the swirl.as for a trout. 

 you will feel fast enough if lie lias caught your tly or missed it, 

 and it' you feel him there " belay there, belay," hold on to him hard 

 enough to drive the honk in well past the barb; hold on. not by 

 touching the line, but by raising the top of your rod, and making 

 him bend the rod as much as you safely dare. He will do the rest 

 for you in his violent efforts to break away. There is no occasion 

 to strike with a jerk as for trout or small tish. If you do, the 

 chances are you will lie just too quick tor him, and will pull the fly 



