TO FISH FLOATING FLY 85 



In the opposite instance, when the fly is on a 

 swift run and the line in slow water, the cast 

 being so made that the slack lies in the swifter 

 current, the fly will float without drag until it 

 has taken up the slack, when the line will retard 

 it. How, when, and where drag will occur is 

 not only a matter of the set and strength of the 

 currents acting upon fly and line, but also de- 

 pendent upon the point from which the angler 

 casts in relation to the currents obviously a 

 matter which cannot be detailed in a manner to 

 cover satisfactorily even a few of the situations 

 where drag is likely to occur. The angler must 

 practically solve each problem of this sort for 

 himself, as it is presented in the course of the 

 day's fishing. But in practically every case the 

 slack-line cast, varied to suit the occasion, is the 

 best way out of the difficulty. 



The usual way in which the slack-line cast is 

 made may be described as follows: The an- 

 gler, in lengthening out his line, strips from the 

 reel a number of feet more than will be neces- 

 sary to reach the spot where he desires to place 

 the fly; then, the line having been extended, in 

 making the final forward cast the rod is mo- 

 mentarily but decidedly checked when half way, 

 or possibly a little more, through the forward 

 swing, with the result that the line is doubled 



