A FEW HOURS' FISHING. 31 



to the art of dry fly fishing I shall first turn the student's 

 attention, dealing with the wet fly later on. 



I will, therefore, take you, my dear student, with me 

 for a few hours' dry fly fishing. You can leave the rod 

 and line with which you have been practising at home 

 first, however, remember to unwind that portion of the 

 line you have previously wetted. Make it up in your 

 hand (if you have no winder) into large loops, but a single 

 handed winder is a most useful addition to your outfit. 

 Put your rod on the horizontal rests and hang up your 

 winder, or put the loops on the butt. A fishing rod 

 should always be supported in three places at least each 

 end and the middle. We will take my own rod, which 

 is all ready for use, with gut cast and fly attached. The 

 first thing to be considered is whether we have every- 

 thing we shall want and are we quite prepared for our 

 fishing ? Let me see. Are you well shod with good 

 serviceable water-tight boots with plenty of nails ? All 

 right. Then, as you have your tobacco, pipe, and matches, 

 and some sandwiches, never mind anything else to-day. 

 I have all that is required, my fishing bag, my net, 

 etc., etc. Your tweeds are a good colour, but you had 

 better put on a soft cap, as that straw of yours is too 

 conspicuous. And now, while we are walking down to 

 the lower end of our water, we can discuss the nature of 

 our day's sport. We shall fish, that is, cast the fly, up 

 stream, which, save for a few exceptions and when fishing 



