ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY 97 



first, but gradually lessening the speed, so that when 

 it stops no recoil of the point will take place. The 

 whole motion of the rod in casting should be in the 

 shape of a horse shoe ; and care must be taken not 

 to urge the flies forward till they ha ye gone the 

 full length behind, or you will be apt to crack them 

 off. Many a beginner who cracks off his flies pleases 

 himself with the idea that some trout of large 

 dimensions has carried them away. 



The line must be so thrown that the flies will fall 

 first upon the water, and as little of the line with 

 them as possible. If you were to fish up a strong 

 stream, and allow the middle of your line to light 

 first, before you could get it straight and prepared 

 for a rise, your flies would be almost at your feet, 

 and should a trout take one of them on their alight- 

 ing the most deadly moment in the whole cast 

 the chances of hooking it would be exceedingly small. 

 It is very different if the flies light first ; the line is 

 then nearly straight from the point of the rod to the 

 flies, and the least motion of the hand is felt almost 

 instantaneously. Again, in fishing nooks, eddies, and 

 comparatively still water, at the opposite sides of 

 strong streams, if any of your line lights in the 

 current it is dragged down, and the flies no sooner 

 touch the water, than they are drawn rapidly away 

 in a most unnatural manner, and without giving the 

 trout time to seize them should they feel inclined. 



In order to make the flies light first, considerable 

 force must be employed in casting ; and the rod must 

 be kept well up ; it should never be allowed to make 



