40 WORKING THE FLY THROUGH THE WATER. 



in their working the fly through the water with 

 too much force and rapidity. I am told, and I 

 have reason to believe it from some personal ob- 

 servation, that the error is more frequently com- 

 mitted by Irish salmon-fishers than by Scotch. 

 The latter, however, perpetrate it commonly 

 enough to be adjudged sinners requiring earnest 

 admonition. I advise gentle working of the fly 

 through and against the water, with no more 

 action than is required to display before the eyes 

 of the fish the artificial bait attractively ; with no 

 more speedy power than can be easily compassed 

 by a pursuing fish. 



The salmon-fly is always to be worked or hu- 

 moured against the current, never with it ; to 

 be worked up and down beneath the water's sur- 

 face, head foremost and onwards towards the 

 angler, or rather in the direction of the point of 

 the rod. This is done by moving your hands and 

 arms up and down, somewhat in the way you 

 would work a light and free pump-handle. The 

 up-and-down motion of your hands will commu- 

 nicate a similar motion to your rod, line, and fly, 

 — similar in appearance, but not in degree. The 

 casting-line and fly will be less influenced by the 

 action of the hands and arms than the rod ; and 

 the winch-line — at least the portion of it in the 



