WET FLY FISHING, ETC. Ill 



ten, the hooking of a fish with a wet fly down-stream cannot 

 be claimed as being due to any skill or quickness in striking ; 

 while in at least eight cases out of ten the fish hooked with 

 a dry fly or wet fly up-stream may be fairly claimed by the 

 angler as due to his skill in striking. An immediate strike 

 when the fly is taken by the fish below the surface of the 

 water is seldom advisable ; and equally it is true that an 

 immediate strike is in nearly every case advisable if the 

 fly be taken when floating on the surface. 



ARRANGEMENT OF FLIES ON CAST 



When two, three or more flies are being used on a cast, 

 the question as to the best distance which should separate 

 them is an important one. 



With a short cast it is generally advisable to use only 

 two flies. 



In wet fly fishing down-stream a long gut cast should be 

 employed, as more space can be allowed between each fly 

 than when using a short cast. 



If the flies which are being used are of a large pattern, 

 plenty of room should be allowed between each one, but this 

 space can be reduced as the cast becomes finer and the flies 

 smaller. In discoloured water, again, a shorter distance 

 between each fly may be arranged even when using a fairly 

 large pattern of fly. In selecting the tail fly, the one most 

 likely to attract the fish should be used, and the droppers, 

 as the other flies are called, should be attached to the cast 

 by a length of gut not more than three inches from the cast 

 to the fly. Single-winged flies should be used, with a fairly 

 stiff hackle. I think one gold-ribbed fly should always be 

 used on a cast. Experience acquired on any particular 

 stream, tempered by the size of the fly and the condition of 

 the water, will be the best guide as to the arrangement of 

 your wet fly cast. 



