

A SAGGING LINE 201 



into the full force of the current, much will have been 

 done to avoid the objectionable sag and its conse- 

 quences. A small jigging action of the rod in a slow 

 current is advisable, as the fly sweeps round to a 

 position below the fisherman ; but in rapid water and 

 with a very long line it is not of very great use, as 

 this motion is lost before it reaches the fly, and the 

 pressure of the stream prevents the feathers of the fly 

 from opening. 



When the river is rapid on one side alone, if the 

 river can be covered with one cast, it is well to fish 

 from that side of the river which possesses the most 

 moderate current, the fly being cast across the slacker 

 water to the side on which the more rapid stream 

 exists. 



When a river is rapid in the centre and slow towards 

 the sides, the more directly the line is thrown across 

 the current and into the slacker water on the other 

 side, the greater the sag. When fishing such a stream, 

 if wading is impossible the fisherman should cast his 

 fly well down-stream, in order thus to avoid some 

 portion of the sag. If, however, the river is nearly 

 uniform in its current from bank to bank, a cast can 

 be made at a much wider angle, the line being thrown 

 almost at right angles to the bank, the rod held well 

 up, and but little sag need be anticipated. Wading 

 is to be recommended for the facility with which one 

 can fish a stream to ,the greatest advantage. It 

 permits the fisherman in most cases to choose his own 

 position for casting ; he can, in consequence, generally 



