96 THE DRY FLY AND FAST WATER 



from the opposite side and this, unfortunately, 

 is usually the case the angler should not move 

 or allow his rod to move for some time after he 

 has taken his position. 



Having reached the head of the stretch, the 

 angler may go over the eddies, backwater, and 

 swift, and, if he meets with no response, the 

 white water. This, above all places, is the diffi- 

 cult water to fish with the dry fly, and many 

 anglers believe it to be quite impossible. If 

 the dry fly be fished as is the wet fly that is, 

 cast in the swirl and allowed to drift about and 

 down it will become thoroughly drenched. But 

 if it is placed properly and with due calculation, 

 it is as easily kept dry and floating as upon 

 any other part of the stream. The explana- 

 tion lies in the fact that the fly is not placed 

 directly upon the white water at all, if it be 

 properly placed, but is cast to either side of the 

 swift water, always on the side nearest the 

 angler first, who should pick out the smooth 

 looking spots upon which to place the fly. The 

 fish which the wet fly angler takes directly from 

 the centre of the current are taken on the dry 

 fly by being induced to move out of their posi- 

 tion. A very short line is used, and the fly is 

 floated but a foot or two, being dropped lightly 



