The Compleat ^Angler 



Now to have your whole line as it ought to be, two of the first 

 lengths nearest the hook should be of two hairs a-piece ; the next 

 three lengths above them of three ; the next three above them of 

 four ; and so of five, and six, and seven, to the very top : by which 

 means your rod and tackle will, in a manner, be taper from your 

 very hand to your hook ; your line will fall much better and 

 straighter, and cast your fly to any certain place, to which the hand 

 and eye shall direct it, with less weight and violence, than would 

 otherwise circle the water, and fright away the fish. 



In casting your line, do it always before you, and so that your fly 

 may first fall upon the water, and as little of your line with it as is 

 possible ; though if the wind be stiff, you will then of necessity be 

 compelled to drown a good part of your line to keep your fly in the 

 water : and in casting your fly, you must aim at the further or nearer 

 bank as the wind serves your turn, which also will be with and against 

 you, on the same side, several times in an hour, as the river winds in 

 its course, and you will be forced to angle up and down by turns 

 accordingly ; but are to endeavour, as much as you can, to have the 

 wind, evermore, on your back. And always be sure to stand as far 

 off the bank as your length will give you leave when you throw to 

 the contrary side ; though when the wind will not permit you so to 

 do, and that you are constrained to angle on the same side whereon 

 you stand, you must then stand on the very brink of the river, and 

 cast your fly to the utmost length of your rod and line, up or down 

 the river, as the gale serves. 



It only remains, touching your line, to inquire whether your two 

 hairs next to the hook are better twisted or open ; and for that I 

 should declare that I think the open way the better, because it makes 

 less show in the water, but that I have found an inconvenience, or 

 two, or three, that have made me almost weary of that way; of 

 which, one is, that, without dispute, they are not so strong open as 

 twisted ; another, that they are not easily to be fastened of so exact 

 an equal length in the arming that the one will not cause the other 

 to bag, by which means a man has but one hair upon the matter to 

 trust to ; and the last is that these loose flying hairs are not only 

 more apt to catch upon every twig or bent they meet with ; but, 



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