92 THE PRACTICAL ANGLER 



such cases the opposite bank is the place where most 

 trout are to be had, and if a number of flies are 

 used, and they are all kept in the water, justice can- 

 not be done to the tail-fly, which alone reaches the 

 opposite bank, and has therefore the best chance. 



The fly-casts should be joined to the casting-line 

 by four or five lengths of picked gut, and the whole 

 line should increase in thickness gradually from the 

 flies to the rod ; it is a great assistance to casting. 



The only point connected with this subject which 

 remains to be considered is the rod, and it is a very 

 important one. The rod may be used either double 

 or single-handed. If the river is large, and the 

 angler is not wading, a double-handed rod might be 

 advisable ; if he is wading, even in a large river, a 

 single-handed one will be sufficient ; and in all rivers 

 which can be commanded from bank to bank, either 

 by wading or otherwise, it should always be used. 

 For fly-fishing, where light throwing and quick 

 striking are indispensable, a double-handed rod is 

 an unmanageable weapon. With it the angler can 

 neither cast with so much certainty, nor strike so 

 instantaneously when he gets a rise, as with a light 

 single-handed rod. It is also exceedingly difficult to 

 regulate with it the amount of force necessary to 

 fix the hook, the force necessary to move the rod 

 being exceedingly apt to tear small hooks away from 

 their hold. Besides which, it takes a much longer 

 time to cast, and where repeated casting is necessary, 

 this becomes a serious objection. 



A light stiff single-handed rod, about ten feet 



