A Dry-Fly Purist's Advice to a Beginner. 3 



the lower boundaries of your fishing without undue 

 haste, and avoiding, if possible, the least noise or 

 commotion, you will stand well away from the 

 margin of the river, and, having hung your creel on 

 to a gate hard by and placed the landing-net 

 temporarily beside it, you begin to put your tackle 

 together, glancing ever and anon over the peaceful 

 flood, now slightly moved to unrest in the middle 

 as the sweet wind kisses it into smiling ripples, but 

 it is smooth under the sedgy bank on which you 

 stand your bank you call it. What an improve- 

 ment is the lock-fast joint, you think, as you put 

 your split- cane rod together and handle it lovingly 

 just in mere wantonness waving it once over your 

 head, first to the right side as you make the back- 

 ward sweep, and then an imaginary downcut cast 

 along the grass straight before you. And see ! how 

 gracefully the rod bends to the action. The winch 

 fittings receive your winch to a nicety, and, as you 

 thread the thin running line through the bridge 

 rings, you are evidently well satisfied with every- 

 thing so far. Now from your damper-box take out 

 the gut cast, uncoil it and fasten the loop over a 

 point of wood on the gate to hold it firmly while 

 you stretch it out and pull it tight so as to test 

 every knot and leave the collar quite straight, then 

 loop it on to the running line and wind it up until 

 the gut point is close to your hand, and you are 



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