450 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



Whipping for small fish, as the dace, roach, or chub, 

 where they exist, forms the best introduction to the use 

 of the fly-rod, especially as these little fish may be met 

 with in almost all our streams and rivers, and often in 

 situations where there are no trees to interfere with the 

 use of the line. Almost any small midge or gnat will 

 take them ; and the tackle throughout should be of the 

 finest description, with a light single-handed rod of about 

 11 or 12 feet in length. The young angler should now 

 take as much pains in throwing his fly as if he were intent 

 upon the capture of the finest salmon. In watching the 

 evolutions of the general run of fishermen, it is common 

 enough to see two or three feet of line touching the water 

 before the fly, whereas the contrary ought to be the case ; 

 and the fly should alight on the water as airily and gently 

 as its natural prototype, with scarcely any portion of the 

 line following its example by coming into contact with the 

 water at all. If the angler will only endeavor to avoid 

 jerking his line, and will coax his fly rather than force it 

 forwards, he will soon see the difference. The cast or 

 throw is effected as follows, when the rod is light and there 

 is plenty of elbow-room. I am now supposing that the 

 angler has a rod of 11 feet in length, and a line, altogether, 

 of about 18, with either a single stretcher, or in addition 

 one or two droppers, all very minute ; he takes the casting- - 

 line in his left hand, at such a distance from the fly that it 

 is quite clear of the ground, and with the rod pointing 

 forward and to the left ; then, at the moment when he 

 looses the line, he, with a half-side, and half-backward 

 movement of the arm, sweeps the line in a gentle curve till 



