106 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



and even throwing. When two flies are used, the one at the 

 extreme end of the cast is called the stretcher ; the one 

 which is fastened two feet or so above it is called the drop or 

 bob fly ; if three or more be used, the uppermost fly is called 

 the first dropper, the next the second and so on. In putting 

 flies on to the casting line, always put the heaviest fly on as 

 the stretcher, for if this practice be reversed, the heaviest fly 

 receiving the greatest momentum goes first, and is apt to 

 double over the lighter one, and thus the drop will fall over 

 the stretcher, and a foul will be the consequence ; or to 

 avoid this so much force will need to be used that the flies will 

 alight in anything but gossamer fashion. It is almost un- 

 necessary to say what will be the result of either of these 

 contingencies if you happen to be casting over a good fish. 

 Probably you will see a wave on the water as he dashes away 

 to his lair, but that is all. You will have spoilt him for hours, 

 and the fish that would have come up and sucked in your fly 

 with the most confident greediness and innocence will re- 

 member the bungle that scared him perhaps for the rest of 

 the day. I cannot too much impress upon the young angler 

 the necessity for neat and light casting in trout-fishing. Old 

 anglers sometimes may take liberties in this respect, and lose 

 nothing by it, but then they know when to take them and 

 how, which the novice does not. 



The casting line should vary slightly in length with the 

 water and weather. In June weather, and shallow clear 

 water, not less than three yards should be used, three and a 

 half is even better, and four if the angler can throw it neatly 

 and well which few can, for the longer the casting line, the 

 more difficult it is to throw and place neatly.* In rough, 

 windy weather, or in heavy, thick water, a shorter line may 

 suffice. In windy weather particularly, a long casting line 

 becomes troublesome. 



In fixing drop flies on a casting line, loops are so clumsy 

 as to be objectionable. I have tried all sorts of plans, and 

 I find the following decidedly the best. At the knots in the 

 cast line, about which I wish to tie my droppers, in cutting 

 off the ends of the gut after tying the knot, I leave about a 

 quarter or a sixth of an inch of the upper end, or that above 

 the knot, uncut. This I secure to the line by a fine silk lashing, 



* The tendency of late has been to reduce the length of casting line. One 

 two best dry fly-fishers of my acquaintance uses one not exceeding 

 six feet in length. Ed. 



