FINE AND FAR-OFF FISHING 129 



and far-off, shows his title to the degree of Master of 

 Angling. An equal degree of skill should be the goal 

 of every fly-caster. 



A rising motion of the rod just before the flies are 

 about to alight will cause them to land quietly. This 

 motion of the rod, however, must not be sudden or 

 jerky, but must be graduated with nicety; otherwise the 

 process simply results in "snapping the whip" and the 

 flies will strike the water with even more than ordinary 

 force. Another factor in casting for delicacy is to aim 

 not at the exact spot on the water where the flies should 

 alight but at a point in the air four or five feet above 

 the spot. This will cause leader and flies to straighten 

 out in the air, lose in a measure the propulsive force of 

 the cast, and fall with all necessary delicacy. 



Distance in both fly- and bait-casting, although at 

 times very necessary, is generally of less importance 

 than accuracy and delicacy. It is an 

 is a ce. an gl m g axiom that the more line you 

 have out the better are your chances for failing to hook 

 a rising fish, or, if the fish is struck, of eventually losing 

 him. It is always advisable to use the shortest line 

 permissible under the circumstances. By so doing ac- 

 curacy and delicacy are more easily and surely attained, 

 you have more control over the strike, and instant con- 

 trol over a fish when struck. 



The chief advantage of distance comes when, owing 

 to the natural conformation of the pond or stream, or 

 to the extreme shyness of the fish, lengthening out is 

 rendered imperative. The practice of distance casting 

 is, however, of distinct advantage, for the reason that 



