ON FISHING THE DRY-FLY 83 



reeling in of slack to keep the fly from being pulled 

 under the water by the weight of a slack line or 

 through some other rough work of the caster. 



HORIZONTAL CAST THE BEST 



Wherever possible, the horizontal cast should be 

 used in preference to the overhead cast, as the fly is 

 more likely to land right side up with the wings 

 cocked. While more accuracy and distance are ob- 

 tained by the overhead cast, these things are not as 

 essential in dry-fly casting as having the fly ride the 

 water in a natural manner. As a general thing the 

 fly lights on the water on its side when the overhead 

 cast is used, and although a trout will rise to a float- 

 ing fly in this position, the chances are greater for 

 a rise when the fly lies on the water in the position 

 naturally taken by a live insect with its wings flutter- 

 ing above the water in its effort to rise from the 

 surface. 



In casting a smooth stretch of water there is little 

 if any drag of the line, and the fly will float in an 

 upright position if cast skillfully in the first place. 



In the early season, when the water is high and 

 discolored by flooded conditions, the trout are bottom 

 or midwater feeding, and at this time the dry-fly is 

 of little use on the streams. As soon as the air 

 warms up a bit and the insect life has developed on 

 the streams and the water clears, with the tempera- 

 ture rising steadily, the floating fly is a sure winner. 



