156 THE DRY FLY AND FAST WATER 



insect that imitation described as "position" 

 but it is not so essential as the accurate and 

 delicate placing of the fly, which last depends 

 entirely upon the skill of the angler. Perhaps 

 "position" is best described by saying that it 

 includes both "attitude" and "plane." 



The plane in which the fly is to travel must 

 be selected by the angler, and a combination of 

 the judgment which prompts this selection, and 

 the skill which maintains the plane during a 

 great number of casts, will contribute more to 

 success than the presentation of any part ; cular 

 pattern of fly. As a matter of fact, it is per- 

 haps the only form of imitation which approxi- 

 mates nature a fly sitting upon the water, be- 

 ing carried down-stream in the same current, 

 and as unhampered and unrestrained in its 

 action as a natural insect. Reliance upon cer- 

 tain patterns purporting to represent certain 

 insects is never so strong again with the angler 

 who, by his own skill, produces an imitation in 

 this way that deludes a good fish. The govern- 

 ing consideration in the practice of this theory 

 of imitation is the selection of the proper current 

 in which to place the fly, and the angler, 

 being guided naturally by his knowledge of 

 the habits of the fish, should make a close 



