28 THE SCIENCE OF DRY FLY FISHING. 



flies which are invisible to the angler, and, in consequence, 

 no dependence can be placed on the rise of the fish being 

 seen, the angler having, in most cases, to depend on his 

 sense of touch for a knowledge as to fish rising at any of 

 his flies, and, therefore, when a fish is caught, it is 

 because the fish, in most cases, hooks himself. In the 

 other, in casting wet flies up stream, a short line and 

 cast is used, the reasons for which will be explained 

 subsequently. Each cast being made with the definite 

 object of fishing either for a rising fish or for a feeding 

 fish whose position is known or assumed, the flies should 

 be allowed to sink only a few inches at the most below 

 the surface, and the rise of the fish should, in consequence, 

 be apparent to the angler, a straight line and the flies 

 always moving being generally necessary, the fish in this 

 style being mostly hooked by the angler's initiative in 

 striking. This style of fishing, which is undoubtedly more 

 scientific and interesting than fishing with wet fly down 

 stream, is, comparatively speaking, but little known, and it 

 is often condemned by those who have not given it a fair 

 trial. 



When a trout is seen to rise, then the strike deter- 

 mines its capture. In fishing up stream the angler, in 

 four cases out of five, is dependent on his skill and 

 alertness in striking for his fish. In wet fly fishing down 

 stream the angler is dependent in four cases out of 

 five for the fish to hook itself, and in this respect alone it 



