GENERAL HINTS. 193 



generally with the subject of fly-fishing in its 

 various bearings. Fishing in rapid streams requires 

 somewhat different tactics than those suitable for 

 ordinary smooth running river, or still-water fishing. 

 In these no humouring actions are required to be given 

 to the fly. To draw against or even across stream in 

 these circumstances is to extend to it an unnatural 

 motion. The flies must be cast a few feet above the 

 dimply indication of a rise, and then allowed to float 

 over. This may be repeated several times before 

 moving on, especially if casting over grayling, as 

 these fish are given to take the proffered lure more 

 often than not when passed over repeatedly. With 

 regard to the vexed question of up or down-stream 

 fishing, no strict rule need be observed, a continuous 

 resort to either is not desirable. Adherents of the 

 one deprecate the ever- recurring nuisance of the line 

 becoming slack when cast up stream by the down- 

 ward flow of water, thus lessening, after each delivery, 

 the chances of a rise by the fly being brought again 

 home to the feet. Upon the other side of the 

 question we have arguments in plenty against 

 down-stream fishing, the most important being the 

 habitual position of the fish heading up-stream, and 

 therefore in full ken of the operations instigated for 

 his allurement. 



Our method of fishing a strange stream is, after 

 prospecting the length to be operated upon the night 

 or early morn previous, to commence at its lower 

 end, and casting, as we have attempted to describe 

 previously, according to the lay of the land and 



O 



