84 TROUT LORE 



cast," which, by the way, is not a cast at all. 

 Holding the end fly between thumb and fore- 

 finger of the left hand, the rod is bent into a bow 

 and the flies shot, or "snapped," in under the 

 brush and trees. It is difficult to place the flies 

 properly, but it can be done. Of course if there 

 is any current at all, the lures may be floated 

 down from the upper end, but I have found in 

 fishing such pools that it is much better to cast 

 from below, over the fish. In fishing brushy 

 pools you must learn to handle the line with your 

 left hand, if you cast with your right, grasping 

 it between the reel and first guide, keeping the 

 rod parallel with the water; then, if a fish rise to 

 the flies unexpectedly near your feet you are in 

 a position to strike, which would not be the case 

 were the rod held in the ordinary position. 

 Learn to strike toward your body and not up- 

 ward as is usual, then you will not hang your 

 flies in the brush. Any one will concede that the 

 Scarlet Ibis is a handsome fly, but I have yet to 

 find the angler who will admire even a Scarlet 

 Ibis when it adorns an alder upon the far side 

 of a stream. Such fishing is by no means easy; 

 therefore it is passed by, by the average angler, 

 and for that very reason the man possessed of 



