278 THE YOUNG ANGLEB. 



streams until a dexterous mode of casting the fly is arrived at. 

 When casting the line use your utmost endeavours to drop the fly 

 lightly on the surface of the water ; for the more skilfully you throw 

 the fly, the greater your chance of success, and this desirable adroit- 

 ness can only be acquired by constant practice. When you perceive 

 a rise, throw your fly a little above the spot, and let it drop gradu- 

 ally down the stream, and directly the bait is taken, for which you 

 must keep a sharp look out, strike quickly, or else the fish will dis- 

 cover its artificial character and refuse it. When you have hooked 

 a fish, run him down the stream, play him very cautiously, keep his 

 head up, and at the same time draw him by gentle force towards 

 you. Keep your back to the wind if possible, as you can then stand 

 further out of the fish's sight, and so angle on both sides of the river, 

 if it is not a very broad one ; and if the sun is shining, stand with 

 your face to it, that your shadow may not be cast upon the water; 

 if the day is so calm that the very reeds are motionless, then keep 

 as far away from the brink as you can, as fish are extremely quick- 

 sighted, taking an alarm and vanishing in an instant at the slightest 

 appearance of danger. Generally speaking, the best time for fly- 

 fishing is when the day is overcast and gloomy after a beautiful 

 clear night, or when a light breeze just agitates the surface of the 

 stream ; and if the wind is from the south or west, and the water 

 turbid from recent heavy rains, it is all the better for the angler. 

 Fish every yard of water likely to afford sport, and keep your fly 

 continually in motion, that it may appear to be a natural one. The 

 list of natural flies, with the months in which they usually appear, 

 appended to the article on natural fly-fishing, will serve as a guide 

 to the proper times for using artificial ones, as fish seldom rise at 

 imitations of flies not naturally in season. 



A downright good fly-fisher will throw his fly as gently on the 

 water as if it had alighted there of its own accord. A bad fly-fisher 

 will have two or three feet of line touching the water ; a good one 

 not as many inches. 



MONTHLY GUIDE FOR BOTTOM FISHING. 



JANUARY. Chub, pike, and roach are the only fish that can be 

 taken in this month ; the middle of the day is the most seasonable 

 time, provided the water is tolerably clear, and free from ice. 



FEBRUARY. Towards the latter end of this month, when tho 

 weather becomes somewhat milder, carp, gudgeons, and minnows 

 may be taken, as well as pike, chub, and roach. The middle of the 

 day is the most favourable time, and fish in eddies near banks. The 

 perch spawns either in this or the next month. 



MARCH. In this month, minnows, roach, chub, gudgeons, tench, 

 carp, and trout form the bill of fare. Smelts, bleak, pike, and perch 

 spawn. In this month, also, the middle of the day is the best for 

 angling. 



APRIL. The increasing warmth of the weather brings also increase 

 of sport to the patient angler, and tench, perch, trout, roach, carp, 

 gudgeons, flounders, bleak, minnows., and eels reward his toiL 



