2(50 CASTING THE NATURAL FLY. 



in guiding the fly down over the stream it is necessary 

 not to check it, or it immediately becomes entirely im- 

 mersed ; and after this has happened two or three times 

 the wings will most likely become wet and sodden, and 

 the fly will be useless. 



Having bailed the hook as in blow-line fishing, let out 

 rather more line than the length of the rod (the angler 

 will soon find out how much he can manage), take the 

 line about six or eight inches above tho hook between the 

 finger and thumb of the left hand, wave the rod and the 

 liagged line backwards and forwards once or twice to get 

 the spring, and, if possible, to wait for a slight air or puff 

 of wind (it is needless to say that it is very desirable to 

 get the wind in your favour in this kind of fishing) ; then, 

 as you intend to cast, raise both hands before you as 

 though casting the fly with both hands, as it were, towards 

 its destination ; at the proper moment, when the impulse 

 is given (and this exact moment nothing but experience 

 will tell), let go of the line and cast softly, and without 

 jerk or violence of any kind, towards the point aimed at 

 (say a yard above a rising fish), and if the cast be deftly 

 made the fly will fall like nature itself on the surface, and 

 the light fine gut will also be extended upon it. No 

 motion of drawing towards the rod or angler must be 

 made, or the line will make ' centipedes ' on the water, 

 and the fly be drowned. The stream must bear it along 

 the surface without check or motion, the angler following 

 the fly down with the point of the rod and a loose line. 

 When a fish rises give him time to turn his head, and then 

 strike firmly but not heavily, and get on terms with your 

 fish as soon as you can. When the swim is over you can 

 pull out and cast again, and be sure and get the fly off the 

 water as expeditiously as possible, but without violence ; 

 of course there is no necessity to take the line twixt finger 

 and thumb again. Cast as in artificial fly-fishing, but 



