132 ELEMENTS OF ANGLING. 



telling him that it is a great and good thing to cast 

 a straight line. In some sorts of fly-fishing there is- 

 undoubtedly virtue in it, but not in this. Let the 

 novice observe how the awkward curves are 

 gradually being straightened out, how the line is, 

 as it were, drawn off the slow water by the action 

 of the quicker currents, but how notwithstanding 

 the fly floats down over the fish unimpeded. At 

 last, when the line is curved to a crescent shape 

 with its two ends down stream, the fly begins to 

 drag ; but by that time it is well below the trout, so- 

 ft does not matter. 



Getting over the drag is by common consent the 

 most difficult part of dry-fly fishing, and it needs a 

 great deal of practice with unwearying observation. 

 Twigs, leaves, floating weeds, all should be 

 carefully watched as the current carries them down, 

 so that differences in the pace of the stream may 

 be noted. Sometimes a drag may be avoided by 

 casting up stream at a more or less acute angle,, 

 sometimes by casting somewhat down stream. 

 Some men manage to make their line fall in a big 

 curve up stream, where the centre of the river has 

 a greater pace than the side on which the fish are 

 rising, or down stream when the current sets 

 chiefly under the opposite bank. I do not think a 

 general rule can be laid down beyond the axiom 



