164 TROUT FISHING. 



mately make better anglers than those who do not, 

 because, in this action, like most things, there is 

 really but one step between the sublime and the 

 ridiculous : and the poor fellow, who makes no 

 attempt with energy, will most probably, in this, as 

 in other pursuits, remain all his life in the back- 

 ground. Walton, in speaking of throwing a fly, says 

 we should fish "fine and far off:" but we must 

 except very windy weather, or the result of a very 

 long line may, with a very good angler, be crack and 

 whip off. If therefore you have got into a particular 

 current of wind, where this is the case, wind up your 

 line a few turns, or you may soon lose another fly. 

 Sometimes the wind blows very strong, directly across 

 you from the right, insomuch that it becomes an 

 exertion to raise the rod enough to prevent the line 

 from being blown back. Throwing with the left 

 hand is then a convenience ; but for those who are 

 not able to do this, I can suggest no better makeshift 

 than to raise the rod over the left shoulder, and 

 throw the line by a motion similar to that used with 

 a whip when lightly hitting a leader on the near 

 side. (Any one who has driven in double reins will 

 know what I mean.) I made a point of killing 

 some fish this way, in order to try the experiment, 

 which is, of course, a mere substitute for the best 

 method of throwing. So much for throwing. Now 

 for what few finishing touches I can think of: 

 Avoid, if you can, going too close to the edge of the 

 water. Throw, if you are an fait enough to do it 



