86 PLY FISHING. 



added to which, in almost every one of the streams I have chanced 

 to fish in during the time of the May fly, it was considered un- 

 sportsmanlike to practice the cross lines. 



In rivers that are much incumbered with wood, particularly the 

 narrower streams, a stout angling rod of fifteen or sixteen feet, 

 with a tolerably strong line, somewhat stouter than that com- 

 monly employed for fly fishing, should be used. In places of this 

 description splendid sport may occasionally be met with in dapping, 

 which is carried on in a different manner than in the more open 

 waters; the baits being there flipped in under the bushes, or drop- 

 ped through them. The former is effected by holding the rod in 

 nearly an horizontal position, the extremity of the top being point- 

 ed towards the intended object, and the line, which is usually 

 fished with rather shorter than the rod, is held just above the bait 

 between the finger and thumb of the left hand, tight enough to 

 bend the top. The hold of the line is then suddenly relinquished 

 and the bait is thus flipped in the intended direction. With some 

 practice, and a due portion of patience, a line may be thus cast with 

 a great degree of accuracy, though like every thing that requires 

 skill, the ability to do this is at first somewhat difficult to attain. 

 Nor must a man fancy himself perfect in this branch of the art, let 

 him flip in as neatly as he may ; for he must be enabled as well to 

 drop in through very small interstices in the bushes, which indeed 

 sometimes proves a more successful plan than flipping under them ; 

 as by the former mode it is easier for the angler to keep himself 

 concealed from the fishes sight. There is much indeed to be done 

 in this kind of fishing by dropping close in under the near bank, 

 and there are also many cunning little spots perceptible only to 

 the eyes of the scientific fisherman, where a lusty trout is sure to 

 be lurking on the watch for prey, which a mere novice in the art 

 would pass unheeded by, and consequently without venturing 

 his fortune there. Where the water is still and open, particularly 

 in extensive pools, it is often advisable to agitate the flies gently 

 on the surface, so as to represent the struggles of the insects, thus 

 rendering them visible to the trout at a considerable distance. This 

 may^easily be effected by gently shaking the line : some say rap- 

 ping^the butt is the better plan, but though I have tried the expe- 

 riment, I cannot say 1 derived any advantage from it, or that it was 

 any improvement to the simple shaking of the rod, which produced 

 the same effect with far less trouble. 



