50 COMING SHORT 



You will notice that I get my correct length of line, 

 not by trial casting in the air over the fish, which would 

 scare him, but by casting in the air to one side or the 

 other. Now watch ! There ! The fly has fallen just 

 in the right place. See, the wings are beautifully 

 cocked, and the fly is sailing down through the opening 

 of the weeds, and as it does so the point of my rod 

 is being gently raised so as to keep the line fairly 

 straight. There ! Tut ! tut ! I have missed him ! 

 Of course, I don't blame myself fishermen rarely 

 do so. I think, or say I think, he came rather short ; 

 but one thing is certain he came at my fly. I flick 

 my line backward and forward twice, and it is quite 

 dry again, so I will try once more. There ! just as 

 before : the fly floated down beautifully, but I missed 

 him again. I will try him just once more. No luck ! 



So we will give him a rest, and, as the fish are not 

 on the shallows yet, try the opposite side just by the 

 bank. The water is deep and dark, and if one is 

 there he will be a big one. You see that I now 

 stoop well down, as much out of sight as possible, 

 when I cast, because from here I am more noticeable 

 to the fish opposite than to the one we have just 

 missed (see " Vision of Fish," p. 95). I have no luck ; 

 three tries, but if one is there he is not to be tempted. 

 We will try our first friend again. I can stand up- 

 right again, being almost directly behind him. Observe 

 I dry my line and fly by three preliminary casts. 

 Once more the fly alights just above the opening and 

 floats down, but this time I get no notice at all from 



