66 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



fly-fisherman from the mere fly-caster, whether or no 

 the fly-caster, as such, be expert or otherwise. 



As in selecting a fly-rod one is rather more apt to 

 consider primarily its casting qualities than its suitability 

 to playing and landing trout, so is one prone when 

 speaking of fly-fishing to consider rather the act of 

 casting the flies than the ways of fishing them. As a 

 matter of practical angling, however, one of the chief 

 functions of the fly-rod is the playing and landing of 

 trout ; and casting the fly, apart from tournament work, 

 is a mere mechanical preliminary to fishing the flies. 

 Fly-fishing begins when the flies are on the water. 

 Ability to cast well cannot be over-rated, but fishing the 

 flies is even more important. 



To fish the flies properly one must know what is 



fishable water "where the trout hide" after which 



correct manipulation of the flies is the 



Fishable important factor. The stream localities 



Water. . n , 



especially favored by the trout vary con- 

 siderably as regards their natural characteristics with 

 different streams and, also, with the different species of 

 trout brook, brown, or rainbow. Also the time of 

 year, as noted in the preceding chapter, whether early 

 or late in the season, determines to quite an extent 

 where the most trout will be found. Knowledge of 

 brook trout habits and an acquaintance with the stream 

 gained by whipping it a good many times will show the 

 angler which is the fishable water in any given stream. 



The manner in which to handle the cast of flies is, 

 however, more or less a matter of conjecture, immediate 

 results from various ways of fishing the cast determining 



