8o Wei-Fly Fishing 



distance between two straight but not 

 parallel, and, therefore, divergent lines, 

 having a common starting-point, increases 

 by extension. How about the fine and 

 far-off theory when viewed in this light ? 

 Each cast takes longer to make, and it 

 sinks more. It is not so easily or deftly 

 picked off the water, nor can it possibly be 

 so rapidly returned. These points are surely 

 incontrovertible. Therefore, I hold that, 

 when fishing up stream, while wading, the 

 shorter the line, the truer is the fishing. For 

 not only are the casts made more rapidly, 

 but the angler hooks a rising trout with far 

 greater precision than he can possibly do, 

 with a long line, cast up stream. 



Now for my last point, and I think it 

 a most important one. The longer the line 

 thrown, the wider is the space left between 

 each cast on the plan laid down, and thus, 

 it follows that, in order to cover or search 

 a pool with any degree of thoroughness, 

 the angler who fishes with a long line must 

 perforce make more casts than he who uses 

 a comparatively short line. This consumes 

 valuable time. Therefore, practice rapid 

 casting with a comparatively short line, rather 

 than long (uselessly long) casts, when 

 wading and fishing up stream. But, it may 



