102 THE DRY FLY AND FAST WATER 



vary in length from fifteen to fifty feet, or more, 

 and the greater their length the more difficult 

 they are for the angler to cover without showing 

 himself. They are the narrows of the stream, 

 and, where the water is found to be of unvary- 

 ing depth, the fish may be looked for in any part 

 of them. The steady, rapid flow of the current 

 is admirably adapted to the use of the floating 

 fly, and is particularly attractive to those im- 

 patient ones who are unwilling to wait and 

 watch the fly's slow progress on the quieter 

 waters. Where the run being fished is dis- 

 tinctly "lumpy" that is, where its speed is 

 greater because of the sharper incline in the 

 stream bed, and miniature waves are formed 

 that hurry down one after another the floating 

 fly will be more difficult to handle, but is very 

 effective if well placed. 



It was once my good fortune to see a stretch 

 of this character on the Neversink fished by a 

 friend, Mr. Walter McGuckin, who has been my 

 companion on many fishing excursions. He is 

 one of the best hands with a rod that I have 

 ever seen. His precision with the fly is remark- 

 able, and I doubt if the grace and ease with 

 which he handles his line can be excelled. His 

 skill is fortified with a knowledge of trout gained 



