LESSONS IN CASTING 65 



and destroy one's chance of sport, and that of 

 any one following. 



In commencing to fish a pool, a careful mental 

 note should be taken of all the surroundings, 

 such as the character of the bank, trees, &c., in 

 order to avoid catching your fly in undesirable 

 places. Ask your ghillie to watch the line, and 

 tell you where the fly is going in the back cast. 

 This is a great help even to an expert. 



Slogging out a long line does not mean good 

 fishing, and often defeats itself. A longer line 

 than is necessary to cover the lie of the fish 

 should not be used. When fishing a pool with 

 which you are unacquainted, ask your ghillie 

 where the fish lie, and to tell you when your fly 

 has covered them. There are, however, places 

 where a long line must be cast, as for instance, 

 when the "lie" of the fish is on the far side of 

 the stream. Here it is necessary to cast a long 

 line, and to hold up the point of the rod, in 

 order to keep the line as far over as possible. 



If from any position the fly cannot be cast 

 far enough across stream to reach the lie of the 

 fish, it may be drifted down by paying off 

 line until over the place, and then worked 

 by drawing in and letting out line with the 

 hand. 



Short casts can be made from positions under 

 trees, by getting the ghillie to hold the fly lightly 



