TO CAST FLOATING FLY 67 



line, the fly will be quite free from moisture 

 if previously well-waterproofed when the 

 angler has again lengthened out his line after 

 having made a cast and allowed the fly to 

 float down over the water he desired to cover. 

 Unless the fly has become thoroughly soaked 

 four or five false casts are enough. These 

 should be made as gently as possible to avoid 

 whipping the fly; the constant casting tends to 

 shred the wings, and if this results the fly loses 

 much of its natural appearance and is more dif- 

 ficult to cock. 



The longer the line used when drying the 

 fly the longer distance the fly travels through 

 the air; thus a lesser number of false casts are 

 necessary to dry it. But it is better to take 

 more time, use a shorter line and more casts, 

 and endeavor not to whip the fly out of shape. 

 After playing and landing a fish the fly will be 

 thoroughly soaked and draggled. Ordinarily 

 it is then best to put up a new fly; if this seems 

 unnecessary, much of the water can be removed 

 by holding the fly close to the mouth and blow- 

 ing off the moisture, after which the wings 

 should be nursed into their original form. 



