FISHING WITH THE FLY* 



LY FISHING is the art of presenting to a fish a 

 bunch of feathers tied to a hook in- such a 

 manner that the fish will believe that the 

 aforesaid bunch is something edible and become 

 "permanently attached" to it. 



The seductiveness of the presentation of 

 the artificial fly depends greatly on the ability 

 of the fisherman to cause his line to fall gently 

 on the water within reasonable distance of the 

 spot where his prospective victim is lying in 

 wait for something to eat to pass by. 

 Fly fishing is the highest branch of angling. Its appurten- 

 ances are the most artistic of all fishing tackle and its practice 

 utilizes the most graceful of all motions involved in fishing. It 

 is a perpetual joy to its votaries, and, like chess, while the element- 

 ary moves are easily learned, there is always room for improvement. 

 The requisite tackle is simple, beautiful and, comparatively 

 speaking, inexpensive. The man of moderate means is perfectly 

 equipped with a ten-dollar outfit, while the wealthy angler may 

 gratify his artistic taste in the ownership of an equipment costing 

 fifteen times as much and both may meet on the stream on 

 exactly equal terms. The float, sinkers, spoons, bait boxes and 

 swivels of the bait fisherman form no part of the fly-caster's outfit. 

 A light rod with the reel seat below the hand a simple single- 

 action reel, 25 to 60 yards of waterproof enameled fly line, a 

 couple of 6 foot leaders of single silkworm gut, an assortment of 

 flies and a book to hold them, a creel, and a short-handled land- 

 ing-net complete his equipment. He has no bait to procure and 

 no worry, trouble or bother in transporting and keeping it alive; 

 the success of his day's outing depends on his skill, the use of 

 the simple equipment given, and his knowledge of the habits of 

 the fish he pursues. 



The novice who has never tried to cast a fly will get per- 

 haps as much assistance as he can receive from printed matter 

 out of the following simple instructions: 



* This chapter has been furnished by Mr. E. T. Keyser. 



