2i8 ROD AND RIVER 



I have elsewhere, when writing on grayling- 

 fishing, made the remark that every fish has 

 its angle, not thereby intending to make any 

 pun. By this I meant what I have here en- 

 deavoured to describe, viz., that the obliquity 

 of cast must depend on the position of the fish 

 with regard to that of the fisherman ; and if the 

 style of fishing adopted be that of a sunk fly 

 down-stream, the fly should reach the water well 

 above the fish, or where the latter is supposed to 

 be, the cast being made so as to allow sufficient 

 line to unfold itself, and permit of the fly reaching 

 the fish. In order to effect this, the fly must 

 be, so to speak, flicked somewhat short of the spot, 

 the point of the rod being lowered and plenty of 

 line used. 



There has been so much argument on the 

 subject of dry-fly versus wet-fly, that I almost 

 shrink from making any remarks thereon. I 

 think, however, that all sensible men are agreed 

 that bigotry is evidence of a want of sound judg- 

 ment. Both systems are good in their way. 

 Where a dry-fly can be used, then, by all means, 

 let it be so ; for it is, to my mind, the more 

 artistic and sporting way of catching fish. Where 

 the stream will not permit of its use, then the 

 wet-fly must come into operation. A good fisher- 

 man will use whichever of the two answers the 

 better. As I have remarked, so far as the science 



