CASTING THE FLY. 



66 



Major Turle's metliod {see page 15) is also very good, but 

 more suitable for smaller flies and books. If tbe gut is not 

 as strong as could be wished, an excellent plan is to make a 

 loop at tbe end of it, and attach tbe fly by tbe method shown 

 in the accompanying Figure (48). Two strands of gut are 

 thus offered to the teeth of the bass, 

 and the fly is rarely whipped off. In 

 fishing the mouths of rivers, it is as well 

 to use some of the better-class bass flies, 

 for there is always the off chance of 

 rising a salmon or sea trout on them. 



The proper tackle for fly fishing having 

 been obtained, the next question is, how 

 and where to use it; and as fly fishing 

 may be a novel sport to some readers of 

 this book, it may be well for me to give 

 a description of the usual method of 

 casting an artificial fly. But however well 

 the angler may understand the method, 

 practice alone will enable him to throw 

 a fly well. Fly fishing in salt water is ^'^Istenhw 0^3^! 

 not nearly so difficult as fly fishing for Fly to Gut. 

 trout in rivers. In fishing from the 



shore, the angler has frequently to cast against the wind, 

 so that it is better for the beginner to commence from a boat, 

 which can nearly always be placed to windward of the fish. 

 Before going out fishing, a little preliminary practice in a 

 field is very desirable. Francis Francis wrote that it was 

 impossible on paper to teach the tyro how to cast a salmon 

 fly, and that he should note how it is done, and then flail 

 away to the best of his ability until he can pitch the line out 

 somehow. The following directions may, however, be of some 

 service: Begin by casting a short line, about half as long 

 again as the rod. Let the line lay on the grass; then walk 

 back a few steps, so as to get away from it. Then stand 

 facing the end of the line, and let the rod point a little to 

 the right of it. To make the cast, it is necessary to first get 

 the line behind you; and to do this, bring the rod smartly 



