114 THROWING THE FLY. 



good practical angler, and able to act, though not 

 to teach perfectly, his firm must have failed pro- 

 perly to describe what they intended ; for as sure 

 as trout take flies, if the line be checked ' ( sud- 

 denly" at such a moment, the fly, instead of fall- 

 ing on the water, will hit it, arid that violently, 

 and like anything rather than a " gossamer "- 

 winged insect. The motion, as I have already 

 told you, must gradually die away, and no 

 " sudden check" be suffered : so that you per- 

 ceive I am not merely quarrelling with words. 

 " Much ado about nothing," has been made by 

 several writers, in directing you " never to let 

 your reel line be on the water, except in a heavy 

 wind." Now, though I think it well to obey 

 that direction, if convenient and possible, which 

 it could only be while fishing with a very short 

 line, I am far from considering it necessary, or 

 possible, or proper (were it so), with even twelve 

 yards of line out; and as I give my reasons 

 (which you will do well to remember for more 

 purposes than the refutation of this fallacy), I 

 will be judged by you who is right. In so doing, 

 I must necessarily, in some slight degree, touch 

 upon the art of " throwing" ON a stream ; and 

 therefore be prepared for an occasional digression. 

 To dispose of the question of propriety, under- 

 stand that the endeavour to lift your reel line 

 clear of the water (for of course if you have any 



