WET AND DRY FLY FISHING 61 



allowed to go too low behind, the tail fly is 

 apt to catch on grass or other obstacles, and 

 when brought forward, the sudden strain 

 may smash the rod top. One throws a fly 

 more by instinct than reason, and the act is 

 much easier to perform than describe. Put 

 succinctly, the art lies in casting with the 

 butt and from the wrist. The forearm and 

 wrist combined start the impulse on its way 

 to the rod, and if the angler's elbow be 

 strapped lightly to his side, he should be 

 able to cast quite as neatly and well as if 

 his entire arm was free. 



2. Wet fly fishing : fishing downstream 



and playing a fish. 



Having acquired the art of making the 

 flies alight softly, the beginner will naturally 

 wish to get on terms with a trout. Practice 

 casting is at first best done downstream, 

 and the same thing applies when beginning 

 to fish. Approaching as near to the river 

 bank as the eyesight of the fish will permit, 

 and with due regard to the volume of water 

 in the river at the time, the angler throws 

 his flies across and slightly upstream, allow- 

 ing the current to swing them round and 

 down. When straight downstream, or a 

 little before they reach that position, he 



