DRY-FLY FISHING FOB DACE. 95 



fine gut 4in. long, should be placed 2ft. higher; and if a 

 third is used, it can be placed 2ft. above the first dropper. 

 Less gut is desirable when the casting has to be against a strong 

 wind. Beginners should content themselves with one fly and 

 casting a short line. 



There are many ways of fastening the droppers to the 

 gut-collar, but the neatest knot and, therefore, the best for dace- 

 fishing, is one designed by Mr. R. B. Marston (shown in Fig. 35). 

 The only objection to it is that 

 the flies are not easily changed; 

 but in fly-fishing for dace a change 

 of flies is not often necessary. 

 The knot is shown loose; it has, 

 of course, to be pulled tight. The 

 gut- collar, fly, and one or more 

 droppers, is called a " cast " of flies. 



The usual method of fly-fishing 

 for dace is to cast the three flies 

 across or down stream, and then -,, 



to draw them over the water, fiq 35. marston Knot for 

 striking gently, but as quicMy as Dropper Flies. 



possible, when a fish rises at one of the flies. The beginner had 

 best practice on rather a sharp stream, which will extend his 

 line when he makes bungling casts (as he is sure to do), and so 

 give him a chance of catching something. Blank days are very 

 discouraging to beginners. Veteran anglers usually bear them 

 philosophically. 



There is a method of fly-fishing which is very deadly, and 

 will take dace in still water on a hot, bright, calm day, when 

 the ordinary method is no use whatever. It is known as dry- 

 fly fishing, and is now almost the only way by which the 

 highly educated trout of the Hampshire chalk streams can be 

 induced to take the artificial fly. Only one fly is used, which 

 is tied to float — that is, with an extra amount of (cock's) hackle, 

 and with split wings, like the natural fly. It is cast lightly, 

 about 2ft. in front of rising fish, and allowed to float on the 

 surface of the stream, and go down with the current just as a 

 natural fly would do which had alighted on the surface of the 



