FLIES AND FLY FISHING. 25 



go still further, and suppose all I have said regarding 

 them to be wrong, and that the advantages I have stated 

 as being urged by the advocates of fishing up stream to 

 be real advantages, there would still be a reason that 

 would counterbalance everything in its favor and utterly 

 condemn it viz., you can always fish downstream on to a 

 rising fish so as to exactly present to him the stretcher 

 fly and nothing else, (which constitutes good fly fishing) 

 whilst in throwing up and over him in all probability you 

 shew him all or a great part of your cast, as it is utterly 

 impossible to decide the exact spot on which to throw your 

 fly up stream so as to be just over his head and no more. 



And now I will try and give a few hints about how to 

 fish. This is easy enough to demonstrate by the water's 

 side but very difficult to do at all plainly by writing ; 

 however, we will suppose we have arrived at the river 

 we are going to fish. Put up your rod, fixing the top 

 joins first, and the butt with reel attached last. On a 

 clamp day, always -rub the brass of each joint with a little 

 soap, this prevents their sticking, and twist a piece of 

 waxed silk round the fastening wires. The best plan of 

 splicing rods is described in the chapter on tackle. The 

 reel should always be put on the rod with the handle to 

 your left hand. Having hooked a fish, turn the rod, and 



