THE RISE 65 



There are, in fact, good reasons why the rod 

 should be held horizontally whenever and wher- 

 ever the floating fly is being used, the line being 

 stripped in by the unoccupied hand as much as 

 may be necessary to keep the fly under control. 



If the current be rapid between the angler and 

 the fish, he should use a foot or two more of line 

 and try to throw a larger curve in the leader so 

 that the fly may reach the fish before drag is ex- 

 erted upon it. If the cast be well done there is 

 at least an even chance that the fly will be taken; 

 if not well done, no move should be made to 

 retrieve the fly until it has floated some distance 

 below the fish, and even then the retrieve should 

 not be made directly from the water with the 

 full length of line. The line, leader, and fly 

 will be swept down-stream at a speed depend- 

 ing upon the current, and will be approaching 

 the angler's bank. By stripping the line in 

 slowly and carefully, the fly may be lightly 

 whisked off with little or no disturbance of the 

 surface when there is little but the leader upon 

 the water, and another attempt made. The 

 angler may continue this process as long as he 

 feels he has made no mistake. 



If the fly has been refused after a number of 

 casts, and the fish continues to rise, it is some 



