TO CAST FLOATING FLY 65 



the fly in such a manner that it simulates as ac- 

 curately as possible the action of the natural 

 fly floating in a like position. The importance 

 of simulating with all possible fidelity the ac- 

 tion of the natural insect has previously been 

 emphasized; the subject is one of very broad 

 application, but at present we may note merely 

 the necessity of upstream casting. 



I believe that printed briefs for or against 

 up or down stream fishing with the fly are 

 wearisome to the average well-read and ex- 

 perienced angler; wherefore brevity in dis- 

 cussing this point seems advisable. As regards 

 wet fly fishing any broad-minded angler will- 

 ingly concedes that under certain conditions it 

 is best to fish the stream up and under other 

 conditions to fish down. The dry fly man, 

 however, has no option in the matter; regard- 

 less of all other factors for upstream fishing, 

 the practical fact remains that the floating fly 

 cannot be fished downstream for when thus 

 cast it is drowned almost at once. 



But even if this were not the case the applica- 

 tion of the rule of exact imitation of nature 

 upon which dry fly fishing is based would prove 

 the method of casting downstream and pulling 

 the fly up against the trend of the current 

 wholly wrong. Even the wet fly should never 



