128 THE DRY FLY AND FAST WATER 



when the fly approaches too closely to the spill, 

 to assume a position where he stopped* and to 

 wait there for another insect to come down. 

 This is the angler's opportunity; but if it is 

 to be of any advantage to him deliberation 

 must mark his every action. The fly must 

 be dropped gently over the marked spot and 

 should not be retrieved until it has passed be- 

 low the rod. It will be difficult to overcome 

 the impulse to retrieve the fly, even though it 

 is getting farther beyond control all the time; 

 but, as the fish has possibly been interested in 

 it and, having turned, will immediately detect 

 any action of the rod and be off at once, such 

 impulse must be resisted. By stripping the 

 line in with the disengaged hand, the fly may be 

 recovered and presented again. Until the fly is 

 taken by the fish, or until the angler is con- 

 vinced that it will not be taken, every motion 

 should be very deliberate. If the fish is not 

 risen on the first cast, each succeeding throw 

 should be made a little farther up-stream than 

 the previous one, until the point where the fish 

 was first seen is reached. The fly should not be 

 retrieved in any case until it has passed over 

 the water covered before and it should travel 

 in the same lane after each cast. A fish spotted 



