40Q THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART II, 



and so that jrour fly may, first, fall upon the water, 

 and as little of your line with it as is possible : though if 

 the wind be stiff, you will then, of necessity, be com- 

 pelled to drown a good part of your line, to keep your 

 fly in the water. And in casting your fly, you must 

 aim at the further or, nearer bank; as the wind 

 serves your turn, which also will be with, and against, 

 you, on the same side, several times in an hour, as the 

 river winds in its course, and you will be forced to 

 angle up and down by turns accordingly : but are to 

 endeavour, as much as you can, to have the wind, ever- 

 more, on your back. And always be sure to stand as 

 far off the bank as your length will give you leave, 

 when you throw to the contrary side : though when 

 the wind will not permit you so to do, and that 

 you are constrained to angle on the same side 

 whereon you stand, you must then stand on the 

 very brink of the river, and cast your fly to the ut- 

 most length of your rod and line; up or down the river, 

 as the gale serves. 



It only remains touching your line to enquire, 

 Whether your two hairs next to the hook are better, 

 twisted or open ? And, for that, I should declare 

 that I think the open way the better, because it makes 

 less shew in the water; but that I have found an incon- 

 venience or two, or three, that have made me almost 



jnustyou return the line too soon, nor until it has streamed its full length, 

 behind you, or, you will certainly whip-off yuur end-fly. There 1$ 

 great art in making your line fall light on the water, and shewing the 

 flies well to the fish. The best way that I can direct, U: When you 

 have thrown out your line, contriving to let it fall lightly and naturally, 

 you should raise your rod gently, and by degrees; sometimes, with a 

 kind of a gentle, tremulant flourish, which will bring the flies on a little, 

 towards you; still letting them go down with the stream, but never draw 

 them against it, for it is unnatural ; and before the line comes too near 

 you, throw out again. When you see a fish rise at a natural fly, throw 

 about a yard above him, but not directly over his head; and let your 

 fly (or flies) move gently towards him, which will shew it him in a 

 more natural form and tempt him the more to take it. Experience 

 and observation alone, however, can make an angler a complete adept 

 in the art, so as to enable him to throw his fly behind bushes and 

 trees, into holes, under banks, and other places mentioned as the 

 Trout's haunts, and where the best fish are to be found. Taylor's Art of 

 Angling. 



