106 THE PRACTICAL ANGLER 



you, as, if they were allowed to remain stationary, 

 the trout would at once detect their artificial nature. 



Casting partly across and partly up stream, for 

 a variety of reasons, is more deadly than casting 

 directly up. The advantage of having a number 

 of flies is entirely lost by casting straight up, as 

 they all come down in a line, and it is only the 

 trout in that line that can see them ; whereas, if 

 thrown partly across, they all come down in different 

 lines, and the trout in all these lines may see them. 

 In casting across, when the flies light, the stream 

 carries them out at right angles to the line, and they 

 come down the stream first, so that the trout sees 

 the flies before the line ; whereas, in casting straight 

 up, if a trout is between the angler and the place 

 where his flies light, the line passes over it before it 

 sees the flies, and may alarm it. 



The moment the fly alights being the most deadly 

 of the whole cast, it is obvious that the oftener it is 

 repeated the better, and therefore the angler should 

 cast as frequently as possible, always allowing the 

 flies to remain a few moments, in order to let the 

 trout see them ; but there is not much danger of 

 casting too often, or even casting often enough, as 

 the angler's arm will quickly rebel against it. 



Rivers which can be commanded from bank to 

 bank, either by wading or otherwise, constitute by 

 far the most agreeable fishing ; but if the river is 

 so large that you cannot reach the opposite side, 

 you must look for sport on the side you are on. 

 And in this case, though you should neglect no spot 



