CHAPTER VI 



ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY 



HAVING in the preceding chapters expressed our 

 opinion that fly-fishing should be practised up 

 stream, and having mentioned the flies and tackle 

 most suitable for the purpose, we now request the 

 reader's particular attention to the remainder of the 

 subject, as being the most important part of it. 



The first point which falls under consideration is 

 the casting of the line. After having put up your 

 rod, drawn off a sufficient quantity of line from your 

 reel, and fastened on your flies ; before commencing, 

 soak line and flies in the water for a few minutes, as 

 it is no use fishing when the gut is dry, and lying in 

 rebellious curls upon the surface ; and when, should 

 a trout take any of the flies, there is a great risk 

 of its carrying them all away dry gut being very 

 brittle and apt to break at the knots. When the 

 line is thoroughly soaked, take the rod in your right 

 hand, raise it with sufficient force to make the line 

 go to its full length behind, and then pausing for a 

 moment till it has done so, with a circular motion of 

 the wrist and arm urge the rod forward, rapidly at 



