260 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



identical with artificial fly fishing. Its difference merely consists in the 

 use of a natural fly. In casting this natural fly, the great thing is to 

 avoid roughness or any cracking of the hook behind, which sometimes 

 occurs with the artificial, but which, with the natural fly, at once cuts 

 the bait off the hook. A 12ft. or 13ft. rod, made very light, and rather 

 more pliable than ordinary fly rods, having the rings large and close 

 together, is the most suitable. The rings being upright make the rod 

 bend more equally, and the line runs more freely. The best tapered 

 line (silk and horsehair), very light, is to be preferred. Get two lengths of 

 strong gut, and splice them to your reel line, tapering them down to your 

 casting line, which should be at the very least 8|ft. or 9ft. long, of the 

 finest gut that can be got, the hook a No. 8, fine in the wire, and of 

 exceptional temper, so as not to over-weight the fly. Put the hook 

 through the thorax of the bait ; then let out as much line as you find 

 by experience you can cast. 



The operation of casting the fly is now as follows : Take the line well 

 above the baited hook, between the left finger and thumb, for the first 

 cast; let the line hang down from the point in a bag or curve, then wave 

 the point of the rod gently backwards and forwards until you get the line 

 on the stretch, when make your cast, releasing the line at the same 

 moment. Let the fly and as much of the line as is required rest on the 

 top of the water ; cast as much up stream as possible, and, as the fly 

 comes down towards you, steadily raise the point, but take care not to 

 put any drag on the fly. Let the fly travel on as far as it will go 

 without check ; when it can be allowed to go no further, it must be 

 fetched off the water as lightly and smoothly and with as little wetting 

 as possible ; a semi-circular sweep of the rod point must be taken, to 

 avoid popping, and a smooth cast up stream once more made. When 

 the fly has been drowned two or three times without getting a rise, it 

 will no longer float, and a fresh one must be put on. Some anglers use 

 two flies on the same hook, alleging that they float better, and are more 

 attractive. A very little wind, and that at your back, is desirable. Mind 

 particularly to keep wet the length of gut which your hook is fastened 

 to, by drawing it through your lips before making your cast, so that 

 there is no dry gut on the surface. A very great deal depends on 

 striking your fish. When a fish rises at your fly, suffer him to take it 

 well before striking. 



A cockchafer is a splendid lure, and rarely fails to obtain good sport. 

 The insect should be threaded by means of a baiting needle from the 

 head to the vent, and the head brought down to a small triangle. A 

 light quill float might be used with advantage, and one swan shot above 

 the bait at a distance of about a foot is commonly sufficient to sink the 



