36 ROD & CREEL 



water, as it will then sink gently on to the water without the 

 slightest splash, which would not otherwise he the ease. 



While nothing but practice will enable you to make these 

 movements properly, there are one or two frequent errors made 

 which from a book you can learn to avoid. There is nothing 

 more bungling or ungraceful than to see a man waving his arm 

 at full length and bending his body almost double when attempt- 

 ing to cast a fly. Stand upright in a nice easy position and keep 

 your elbow in to your side as if it were tied there, and do all the 

 work with your forearm and wrist, a slight movement of the 

 shoulders being all that is necessary. Endeavour your utmost to 

 make every movement gracefully and with ease, only using as 

 much vigor as is absolutely necessary. 



A good way to practice casting is on a lawn. You can do 

 this any evening, or better still for a few minutes before break- 

 fast, and it will not only improve your casting but improve your 

 muscles, which you will find a great help if you are out for a 

 whole day's fishing, and will be good for your health also. When 

 you can get out a straight line a fair distance, then practice 

 accuracy by putting down a mark to cast to. 



Fishing 1 a Stream. Having mastered the art of casting with 

 some degree of accuracy and having arrived at a stream ready to 

 fish in earnest, with your rod put together and casts well soaked, 

 first of all take note of the wind, if there is any, and, also of the 

 sun if it is out, as it is a great advantage to have the former at 

 your back and the sun in your face so that your shadow may not 

 be on the water you are going to fish. Then being very careful 

 to keep out of sight, watch to see if any fish are rising, and what 

 flies are on the water. If you cannot see anything to help you, 

 choose your flies according to the season and condition of the 

 water, the clearer the water the smaller the flies being the general 

 rule. 



Now, when you start to fish, in addition to being able to put 

 your fly lightly on the water, you must also work it properly. 

 Before, however, going any further, it is just as well to say a 

 few words on the number of flies to be used on a cast. If you 

 are fishing a small stream where the fish run any size, it is best 

 to be content with one fly: the same thing applies in water that 

 has many snags as your chances of fouling a snag when you are 

 playing a fish are greatly increased with more than one fly. In 

 big streams and lakes you can use two or three flies, each three 

 feet apart. Some men use as many as four but I do not advise it. 

 If you are fishing a stream and have to fish down stream, either 

 on account of the sun, the water being too swift ( in very rapid 

 water it is often best to vary the rule of fishing upstream as the 

 line may be brought down too rapidly to keep it taut enough) 

 or some other cause, never on any account drag your flies either 

 across or against the current as if you do you only make an 



