A DAY'S COACHING 39 



By this time the fly is dry, and we will just touch it with 

 a little oil. We must go up-stream a bit, as our big fight 

 has put down the fish here for a time. There, you saw the 

 rise. A feeding fish just ahead and close to our own bank! 

 Get well down to the water and use a shorter line, and you 

 should get him. That's low enough. Remember the grass 

 and bushes behind you ; make certain to throw your fly 

 well above the fish, and don't lift your fly too soon in your 

 next cast ; let it float well down behind the fish before you 

 make your back cast. Yes, that's right ; you threw your 

 fly well. With regard to getting your line in, you should 

 either gather in your line with your left hand as it comes 

 back to you on the water or else reel it in, keeping the 

 point of the rod down the whole time. It really means 

 this that if you are casting to a special rising fish it is not 

 necessary to let your fly come down more than six or 

 eight feet below the spot at which it rises, and consequently 

 you can take up all the line that is required in one outward 

 movement of the left hand, then make your cast over again 

 at the same fish. 



When you are fishing the stream use only a moderate 

 length of line ; keep well out of sight of any fish which may 

 be lying within the radius of your cast, and do not try for a 

 fish at a distance before searching the intermediate water. 

 Let your fly float down stream for about ten feet for each 

 cast, for this will not necessitate your reeling up. Should 

 you, however, decide to make longer casts, and let your 

 line float on the water for a longer time, reel up your line 

 at first, and then gather in with the left hand as before, 

 ere you make your fresh cast. 



Now cast again to the same fish ; don't take your eye off 

 the fly, keep your rod point down, and gather in as the 

 fly comes back towards you. Now the fly has passed the 

 spot where the trout rose, and as the latter may follow the 



