ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING IN RIVERS AND LAKES. S^ 



above process ; but as skill is acquired, the fly-fisher will 

 soon learn to cast the flies either over the right or left 

 shoulder with one or both hands, and from any position. 



" Switching " is another most useful method of cast- 

 ing, as by it water othenvise inaccessible, owing to trees 

 or banks, can often be fished satisfactorily. 



The modus operandi is as follows : — 



By raising the rod to the full stretch of the arms 

 the flies are drawn in until they are nearly below the 

 angler's feet. Then with a very sudden, strong, circling 

 movement of the rod they should be cast straight out 

 again, up, down, or across, and the first process repeated. 

 " Switching " requires practice, but it is well worth the 

 trouble of learning. 



As a rule the best mode of fishing rivers is to cast 

 doivn and across the current, beginning under the further 

 bank if possible, and ending under the near one. In 

 spite of Mr. Stewart's able advocacy, most anglers have 

 now arrived at the conclusion that fly-fishing tip streaniy 

 always, or even generally, is a mistake in practice. In 

 my general observations on fly-fishing I have pointed out 

 one or two of the reasons which led me to consider it so 

 in theory also. With a strong wind up stream it is 

 sometimes a necessity, though, even then, I cannot but 

 think an unfortunate one. 



G Z 



