68 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



In the opinion of experienced fly-casters the most 

 successful method of casting and fishing the flies is at 

 right angles to the stream, cross-current, 



1 v-'FOSS- a }i ow f n g t h e flf es to SW eep along down- 

 Current Cast. .11 , . 



stream with the current over the desir- 



able places, always taking pains to have a fairly taut 

 line. Usually the slightly submerged fly is the most 

 effective. This method it would seem is, in a way, a 

 compromise between the up-stream and down-stream 

 methods. 



The caster who uses this method should employ the 

 slack-line cast, described above in this chapter, draw- 

 ing in the line gradually through the rod guides with 

 the left hand as the flies work around and down-stream 

 in order to maintain a taut line. The course traveled 

 by the flies is practically a quarter-circle from a point in 

 front of the caster to one directly below him and down- 

 stream. They are then lifted and another cast made 

 from a stand lower down. Care should be taken that 

 the leader and flies float fairly straight, that is, the 

 leader should not be bent so that the end fly tails along 

 too far behind the dropper. A taut line, watching the 

 effect of the current and holding the rod pretty well 

 up, will obviate this. 



The extent to which the flies should be submerged 



varies with the weather and water conditions, and also 



with the temporary likes and dislikes of 



rhe f U _k~ the trout. On a slightly flooded and 

 merged Fly. ,. , , i . 



discolored stream, or early m the season, 



or on a very windy day, or in very rough, broken 

 water, the chances are that the considerably submerged 



