IV: DRY FLY 



I SHALL assume that the angler can cast 

 sufficiently well enough to be able to place 

 a fly at the end of his gut collar where he 

 pleases in ordinary conditions, an adverse violent 

 wind, of course, excepted. Also that he is a fair 

 judge of distance, and knows that if he wants his 

 fly to fall like thistle-down he must aim, not at 

 the water, but at an imaginary spot a little over 

 it from which the extended gut and fly drop 

 gently to the surface. Casting is a wrist and 

 forearm action, and in making the forward switch 

 the rod is stopped, to put it simply, when it 

 makes an angle of about 40 degrees with the 

 horizon ; but the line travels on, and as it extends 

 the rod-point is lowered and given a slight push 

 forward or a similar draw back as suits the place. 

 A dry fly must be placed as accurately as 

 possible, and if anything will teach accuracy in 

 casting it will be this same brook-fishing, where 

 brambles, branches and weeds demand the 

 fisherman's unceasing attention to elude them 

 skilfully. Owing to the narrow limits of brooks 



