Methods and Equipment 349 



that is, floating on the surface with its wings up 

 or "cocked." Many English-made flies (Ameri- 

 can also) are dressed with upright wings, and 

 to put them on the water " dry " is a killing prac- 

 tice, particularly on streams that are much fished. 

 To place artistically a cocked fly on the surface, 

 a horizontal cast seems to be requisite, as the 

 overhead method is apt to topple the fly over on 

 its side. It will be noted that a cocked fly, as 

 above stated, should be cast " dry." This leads to 

 the much-discussed subject, particularly in Eng- 

 land, of the merits of dry and wet fly fishing. 



Fishing with a dry fly is more in use in Eng- 

 land (with one fly only) where the streams are 

 somewhat sluggish, than in America, although a 

 few of our experienced anglers have practised it 

 for many years. The process is simple, as it con- 

 sists in merely switching the flies a half-dozen 

 or more times in the air, before placing them on 

 the water. It is practised with greatest success 

 when fishing a pool from below, but is practically 

 of no value when fishing down-stream in wild 

 water. The flies and lines in use for dry fishing 

 have been somewhat elaborated ; both are fre- 

 quently well oiled to increase their floating 

 quality, and the flies are made with corked bodies 



