330 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK 



rugged forest streams, overliung by buslies and branches of 

 trees, and other obstructions occurring, make it requisite that 

 the angler should acquire tact and skill, to meet these 

 difficulties. 



In casting under branches which hang within a few feet of 

 the water, the motion of the rod and course pursued by the 

 line is necessarily horizontal. For instance, in wading down 

 a stream, if you intend whipping under the branches on the 

 right, a back-handed cast is necessary ; the backward pre- 

 paratory motion of the rod being across the stream to your 

 left, and the cast horizontally from the left to your right. 

 When the branches you wish to cast under are on your left, 

 the course of the line is vice versa, that is, from the right to 

 the left. 



The largest Trout love the shade of trees and bushes which 

 overhang the bank, and it is only by the means just described 

 that you can present your flies. It is customary to fish down 

 stream, and there is much difference of opinion as to wliether 

 the general rule should be to cast directly down or across the 

 water. In this the angler must be governed much by cir- 

 cumstances, and his own judgment. I prefer the diagonal 

 cast, as presenting the flies in a more natural way, although 

 the drop-fly may appear to play better, and set more at right 

 angles with the leader, when drawing up against the stream. 



When the wind is blowing up the stream, it becomes in a 

 good degree necessary to fish across, if possible casting below 

 the desired spot, and allowing the wind to carry the flies to 

 the right place as they fall on the water. If, however, it 

 blows strongly in the direction of the cast, care should be 

 taken when putting on a fresh fly to moisten the gut to which 

 it is attached, if it be a stretcher. Many flies are cracked off 

 by neglecting this precaution. 



The advice of English writers to fish wp stream, or with the 



