84 FLOATING FLIES 



still taut; the slightest pull upon the line at this 

 time is at once communicated to the fly and 

 either drags or drowns it. The proper and 

 strictly necessary procedure, then, for the dry 

 fly-caster is this : At the completion of the for- 

 ward cast hold the rod absolutely motionless 

 for a moment until the fly, floating down, has 

 created more or less slack line, in accordance 

 with the character of the water over which the 

 cast has been made; then slowly bring up the 

 tip of the rod or carefully strip in the line, or 

 both, bearing in mind that to float the fly suc- 

 cessfully there must always be more or less 

 slack line between rod-point and fly. 



As above noted, the best way to prevent drag 

 is to first study the nature of the water over 

 which the cast is to be made, eventually casting 

 from the stand which seems most favorable for 

 the cast's coming off well. If, however, it is 

 absolutely necessary to cast so that the fly will 

 fall upon a slower current than will the line or 

 upon a swifter run than will affect the line, the 

 only remedy is to cast a slack line the fly will 

 then float for a greater or less distance without 

 restraint. If the fly is cast upon a still or slow 

 place while the line rests upon swift water, drag 

 will not set up until the slack line has passed 

 downstream and begins to pull upon the fly. 



