DRY FLY VERSUS WET FLY 61 



of a dragon-fly, a cluster of wild roses, or at any of the 

 thousand delights of the trout stream. It is, however, 

 only when your fly is on the water that this vigilance 

 is imperative, and the fisherman has practically every 

 other moment of the long and delicious summer day 

 in which to enjoy the loveliness of his surroundings. 

 No patience is required in observing this pleasing 

 vigilance. The fascinating expectation of an answering 

 rise to your scientific and delicate cast will be as strong 

 and inspiring during the final cast of your day's fishing 

 as it was during the first cast. It is this absorbing 

 pleasure of looking for and anticipating immediate 

 action during the whole length of an innings lasting 

 practically from morning till night which constitutes 

 one of the principal charms of dry fly fishing, and places 

 it so far above wet fly fishing down-stream, or, in my 

 opinion, any other sport. 



The difference between the two methods, fishing up 

 and fishing down, may be compared to the intellectual 

 pleasure and anticipation of the sportsman during every 

 moment of a long and arduous day in September when 

 shooting over well-trained pointers or setters, and the 

 jaded indifference of the gunner who strides along, 

 with his principal sense, sight after the first few hours 

 used solely to keep him in line and out of ditches, etc., 

 and who is suddenly aroused and jerked back to the 

 realities of life by the nerve-jarring rush of the birds 

 he has chanced to kick up. 



Now watch me carefully once more. The fish you 

 put down are again rising, and I am going to try for 



