138 Natu ral-Fly Fishing. 



keep them there as they sail adown, adown. To 

 do this with effect in a gentle stream in the absence 

 of wind, he must be careful not to keep the line 

 tight after the fly has reached the water, for if he 

 do, the insect will be immediately immersed and 

 rendered totally useless. Follow it as it is slowly 

 borne along, guiding without checking its motion. 

 In fishing pools with a good breeze blowing, keep 

 the line entirely out of the water, and permit the 

 fly only to touch the surface. This is advantageous, 

 even in a gently flowing stream, when the wind is 

 high. In strong- currents, with the wind blowing 

 down, do not attempt to keep pace with the stream, 

 for you will certainly lose the race and deny the 

 trout any chance of seizing the fly; but, holding 

 the rod well up as you move slowly down, now 

 raise the insect out of the water and now lower 

 it again, and so retard its progress and keep 

 it playing upon the surface. Always fish from 

 the bank side of pools, whether working up or 

 down ; and when a trout seizes the fly, strike 

 instantly. 



It is as necessary in natural-fly fishing as it is 

 in artificial, to keep out of sight of the fish ; but, 

 owing to the difference of tackle and method em- 

 ployed, it is more difficult to do so in the former 

 case than in the latter, especially, as we have seen, 

 in the absence of wind. And therefore, a black 



