TO FISH FLOATING FLY 81 



The natural dun coming down without restraint, 

 of course, from line or leader, is affected only 

 by the current whereon it floats; the artificial 

 fly, attached to line and leader, several feet of 

 which must often lie upon the surface, is sub- 

 ject not only to the rate and direction of the 

 current upon which it floats, but also unless 

 the angler so handles his tackle as to prevent it 

 to the force and direction of the currents 

 which play upon the line and leader. 



Thus, when the fly is so cast that it falls upon 

 still or slow water while the line is allowed to 

 rest upon swift water, the artificial fly will at 

 once drag rapidly across or over the still place 

 in an utterly unnatural manner. The natural 

 fly would rest quietly upon such a place, or, if 

 there were a slight current, float slowly down- 

 stream. 



The foregoing is an extreme case, cited 

 merely with the purpose of making clear ex- 

 actly what is meant by the expression " drag." 

 Ordinarily when drag occurs the conditions are 

 rather more subtle and complicated than in the 

 foregoing example. Conversely to the above, 

 when the fly falls upon swift water and the line 

 upon slow, the natural downstream course of 

 the fly is retarded. Again it often happens that 

 unless the sportsman notes clearly the trend of 



