140 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



to be used when the rod is again put together is next to 

 the middle joint, when you are putting the rod into its 

 cotton pockets at night. 



While the nature of the lure may be varied with conspicu- 

 ous success during the season, this axiom might and should 

 be remembered The finer the water, the finer the lure. 



Except it be necessary to cast a long line in order to fish 

 some particular spot otherwise unfishable, always keep well 

 within your distance, and avoid fishing a long line, when a 

 shorter line will serve your purpose equally well. 



When fishing from the bank of a trout stream in the 

 vicinity of trees, bushes, etc., nothing can excuse negligence 

 in failing to look behind in the plane in which a fresh back 

 cast has to be made. Sailormen have a proverb which runs, 

 " The devil would make a good sailor, if he would look up 

 aloft/' and I think fishermen might have an equally trite 

 proverb in " The devil would make a good fly fisherman 

 if he would only look behind." 



Each day on which you fish should most certainly add to 

 your knowledge and experience, and maybe to your skill. 



In order to make the best possible forward cast the line 

 should be extended in the backward cast directly away from 

 the spot at which the fly has to fall. 



The line follows every movement of the point of the rod. 



The name of the method, by which the casting of a fly is 

 known, depends on the manner in which the backward cast 

 is made. 



Vim and not violence should be used in casting. 



" Attention " is not the recognition of a truth or a fact, 

 but the consideration of it. 



