6 DRY-FLY FISHING 



day with the ordinary patterns of wet-fly in any 

 but the most inaccessible waters ; consequently 

 the fisher seeks the river by night. He would, I 

 am sure, much rather fish during the day, but his 

 first desire is to catch trout, and he solves the 

 difficulty by going out only after sunset, whereas a 

 much better solution from every point of view 

 awaits him, viz. a floating fly. 



I do not ask him to discontinue the use of any 

 lure, but wish only to introduce to him another, 

 and I assure him that, if he can place correctly at 

 the first cast the correct pattern of dry-fly to a 

 rising trout, he will succeed in raising the fish. 



As I address those who have experience of fly- 

 fishing, and as I am of opinion that even the most 

 elaborate printed instructions on the science and 

 art of casting are of negligible value, I have given 

 little or no attention to this branch of the subject. 

 The wet-fly fisher can already perform some tricks 

 with the rod and, when he adopts the floating fly, 

 he will soon develop his skill sufficiently to enable 

 him to circumvent the usually fatal " drag." 



I have to thank Mr. Edward Curwen for the 

 beautiful drawings he has provided, and other 

 friends who have been kind enough to give assistance 

 with the remaining illustrations. 



My thanks are due also to the Editor of the 

 Glasgow Herald for permitting me to use such 

 parts of the book as have already appeared in that 

 journal. 



R. C. B. 



