n8 DRY-FLY FISHING 



seriousness of the inattention has not been pointed 

 out to them. Some have fished the dry-fly for 

 years and have never floated cast or line. It was 

 a long time before we could tolerate the sight of 

 floating gut, but, having happily got over our 

 aversion, we now know that more offers go un- 

 accepted by reason of the line being submerged 

 than from any other cause. 



Let us consider what happens in a pool devoid of 

 current, when a good breeze is blowing. The natural 

 fly, when it alights, does not remain stationary, 

 though perhaps quiescent, but is wafted along 

 before the wind, just as any floating body would 

 be. An artificial fly is attached to a line, and 

 the wind acts on the line, waving it about, with 

 the result that the fly makes rapid and erratic 

 changes of position. Trout accept the living insect 

 but refuse the dragging imitation. On certain 

 streams, trout are said to be rather suspicious of 

 even a living fly that is not floating at rest in still 

 water or freely down a current, but we have seen 

 no instances of the kind. On the contrary, we 

 have watched March Browns buffeted about by 

 a strong wind, and seen the trout chasing them 

 eagerly and throwing themselves upon them. But 

 the artificial fly must not indulge in similar antics. 



The action of the wind must be counteracted. 

 Obviously the less line that is exposed to its action, 

 the less will it be affected, but to reduce the length 

 influenced the only device available is to lower the 

 point of the rod. Unfortunately that involves a 

 loss of striking power, but the handicap must be 

 accepted as being the smaller of the two evils, and 

 the angler must do his best to fix the hook by a 



