no Artificial- Fly Fishing. 



for even in a dead calm some weight is necessary 

 to carry it forward and cast with certainty, while 

 in a strong wind it is perfectly useless. This light 

 line, however, in the hands of those who recom- 

 mend it, is generally a very short one, and is cast 

 from a single-handed rod. To fish with it at all 

 requires that the angler wades right up the centre 

 of the stream*; and, while securing a few trout by 

 dint of great physical exertion and constant casting, 

 he so disturbs the water for other anglers following 

 in his wake as materially to affect their prospects 

 of success. This method of fishing seems to me to 

 savour a little of the selfish fish-for-self style, in 

 which, moreover, the paltriness of the end cannot 

 be urged as any justification of the questionable 

 means. Fortunately, it is only in " small " clear 

 water with a favouring breeze, that it can be prac- 

 tised at all, and even then the results bear no pro- 

 portion to the labour. 



The preceding remarks are more or less generally 

 applicable to artificial-fly fishing at any time through- 

 out the entire season. In what remains of this 

 chapter, I shall offer a few hints, bearing more 

 particularly on the special cast for each month, 

 and the conditions of water and weather most 

 favourable for its use. 



April Fishing. The following is the cast for this 

 month : The teal-drake with black hackle forms 



