84 FLY FISHING. 



avoided, of which they spoke as familiarly about as if they had been 

 in the daily habit of fishing the same water together. My infor- 

 mant fancied they had ! But the old gentleman told him that to his 

 certain knowledge no net had been cast in those waters for the last 

 thirty years ! 



In wide waters that are not incumbered with wood, a long rod, 

 made all except the top joint of hollow cane, is generally employed, 

 and with it a light silk line, which is allowed to be floated out on 

 the breeze, and guided by the angler towards the desired spot. To 

 this a gut foot line must be attached having a fine double swivel 

 within a couple of links or so from the hook, in order to prevent 

 the line from twisting, a very light air of wind being sufficient to 

 cause the flies at the end of the line to spin round with great ra- 

 pidity. Some degree of skill is requisite to guide the fly to the 

 exact spot as well as science to know where that exact spot is. 

 But in this respect the rising of the fish at the flies which float in 

 great numbers down the stream affords very considerable assistance, 

 and if the bait is dropped in, or swam down carefully near the 

 same place the angler being careful at the same to keep himself 

 well out of sight, it will usually be taken. The proceeding should 

 be so managed that nothing but the flies touch the water, so that 

 they may float dry winged on the surface ; for if the line is allow- 

 ed to fall on the stream, its weight, or the action of the water upon 

 it, will draw the flies under, and soon give them a drowned and 

 forbidding appearance. When the fish takes the fly, lower the 

 point of the rod slightly, so as to allow him to turn, and as he 

 draws the line tight, strike right up the contrary way to the course 

 the fish pursues, as by so doing you will be less likely to pull the 

 hook out of his mouth. Be careful also, particularly with a cane 

 rod, not to strike too hard ; a fact that generally terminates the 

 existence of most May fly rods ; especially such as are very neatly 

 rasped off at the joints. When hooked, play your fish carefully if he's 

 big enough to be worth the trouble, and never let him have a slack 

 line, always keeping him within as narrow a compass as you can, 

 in order that his fate may not operate as a warning to his fellows. 

 Should you miss the rise without touching the fish, it will be the 

 better plan to leave him for a short time a quarter of an hour 

 for instance and try your fortune elsewhere in the interval, and 

 then return to him again ; when, if not pricked with the hook on 

 his previous rise, he will most likely take again, which in all prob- 



