THE CASTING LINE. 147 



it in his hands, and nineteen times in twenty you will have 

 no reason to regret it. 



The gut for the casting line, lash, or point as it is some- 

 times called, should taper from the loop down to the first 

 drop fly, after which it should be as fine as can be obtained. 

 If no drop flies are used, it may taper to within two feet 

 of the fly, whence the gut should be tine. If these direc- 

 tions are properly attended to, they will facilitate straight, 

 light, 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 upper- 

 most 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 momen- 

 tum 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 unnecessary 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 which would have come up and sucked in your fly with 

 the most confident greediness and innocence will remember 

 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 



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