134 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



It really means that the suggestion of infallibility aids 

 the fisherman in that continuation of attention which is so 

 necessary to the purpose in hand, i.e., to attract the attention 

 of the fish. I think myself that there is no fly like my own 

 " Fancy," and while a certain amount of optimism may be 

 allowed because of the success I have attained with it, at 

 the back of my brain I know full well that some at least of 

 its success is due to the suggestion of its infallibility. 



The beginner, he who has been badly taught, or the self- 

 taught man who may have acquired bad habits, fails to 

 understand why his friend catches readily and easily fish 

 after fish, during a long day, while he secures but a few, if 

 any. 



The skilful fly [fisherman, who can take every rising fish 

 within his reach, seldom attributes his success or his friend's 

 failure to the real cause, which is, the certain and immediate 

 skilfulness or unskilfulness of each cast. 



The dry fly fisherman, for instance, has, as a rule, only one 

 opportunity at each fish, and it is with him that the making 

 or marring of that chance rests. Each initial cast for a 

 trout possesses a greater or less difficulty, and his success 

 will depend on the immediate and skilful manner in which 

 he takes advantage of the opportunity. 



The most essential portion of the dry fly fisherman's 

 art, and the most difficult to acquire, is the power to place 

 at once and with certainty the right fly, delicately and 

 accurately, over his fish. 



AXIOMS 



Among the many factors which contribute to the happi- 

 ness of any day's fishing, the killing of the fish is an incident 

 which ranks least. 



The best fisherman in my opinion is he who nets most 

 fish, and who kills or injures the least. 



