24 Dry-Wy Fishing. 



requiring any lubrication by deer's fat, vaseline, or 

 other greasy, messy, hand-soiling methods. Nor is 

 an air pump at all necessary in the preparation of 

 it ; and if economy be an object, added to the 

 amusement of dressing one's own line so efficiently, 

 I may here mention that the entire cost of 100yds. 

 does not exceed a halfpenny per yard. 



Another advantage of fishing with a fine, level 

 line is that the first link of the gut collar or cast 

 may be selected to nearly correspond in size to it, 

 and gradually taper from that down to the drawn 

 gut point on which the fly is tied, as described 

 below. Here it may be pertinent to observe that 

 the taper of a heavy running line cannot be 

 renovated when worn out, for, even if it be tapered 

 at both ends, they soon wear white during the 

 severe and continuous action of fly drying and 

 casting. The very fact that the taper is required 

 by the advocates of the heavy line is an argument, 

 I think, in favour of a light, fine, level line ; indeed, 

 the gut cast, if nicely graduated, makes a sufficient 

 taper. It has been said that some men can put a 

 fly in the teeth of any wind short of a positive 

 hurricane, but I have never seen it done with much 

 chance of hooking a rising fish, save, perhaps, by a 

 fluke, nor do I care to try to do it, and court failure. 

 I am content to cast effectively and well enough 

 with my light line against any moderate wind, and 



