36 BROOK AND RIVER TROUTING 



at the end of the day his creel will reveal the reward of 

 his adaptability to circumstance. 



The consideration of adaptability to circumstance 

 naturally brings one to a classification and subsequent 

 subdivision of the methods of fly fishing, which methods, 

 judiciously and intelligently combined, make for the 

 true road to success. 



Fly fishing may be practised in two principal ways, 

 with the wet fly and with the dry fly. 



In the former, as the name implies, the flies are 

 fished slightly submerged ; and three or sometimes four 

 flies may be used on the cast. They are placed some 20 

 inches or so apart, but varied as to distance according 

 to the state of the river, greater distance between 

 them being necessary, and fewer flies being used, in 

 low clear water. In dry-fly fishing, as perhaps it is 

 unnecessary to state, only one fly is used, and it is 

 made to float by being whipped through the air after 

 each cast, so as to shake off any globules of water that 

 may be attached to the feathers, a process which is 

 generally assisted by the fly being lightly touched with 

 oil before use. 



Before going further it is as well to say a few words 

 regarding the rod and tackle. The length of rod the 

 writers find most useful is 10 ft. 6 ins., and, if it is to 

 be used for wet-fly fishing exclusively, they would 

 unhesitatingly recommend a two-piece rod made of 

 greenheart, or of hickory for the butt, with greenheart 



