i2 4 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



the time when his flies were cast over the waters of some 

 sluggish, dark-bottomed stream, almost currentless, and 

 cast, possibly, with success. It is a fact that trout 

 streams of this sort are quite common, and usually the 

 trout therein are uncommonly large, although they may 

 not be very numerous. Such streams are many times 

 found in swamps or running through cleared fields 

 adjacent to swampy lowlands. Here again fine and 

 far casting is at a premium. 



Usually such streams are suited to fly-casting only 

 where they run through clearings and meadow lands, 

 where the banks afford no ambush and the surface of 

 the water is smooth and quiet. It is necessary to stand 

 well away from the bank and swing a long line to reach 

 the best of the water without alarming the fish, and the 

 flies and leader must fall "straight" and without the 

 suspicion of a splash. Over water of this sort the 

 retrieve should be made slowly, even, at times, allow- 

 ing the flies to become wholly submerged; otherwise 

 there is too much fuss made on the water in bringing 

 in the fly. 



Casting from a canoe or boat over the quiet waters 

 of a lake is another situation calling for expert hand- 

 ling of rod and line. Except on extra- 

 Casting from Quinary occasions the angler who, 

 a Canoe. . , . , . , , . 



within reason and without neglecting 



good water more easily fished, can cast farthest from 

 the boat will be most successful. Here, as in all long- 

 distance casting, the thing to remember is not to carry 

 the rod too far backward on the back cast. The rod, 

 as before noted, should not go back much beyond the 



