FLIES AND FLY FISHING. 29 



thing else. There are a few flies that are local, even in 

 one river, and should be only used in the parts of it 

 which they frequent. Such are the oak and fern flies, 

 and also the small black fly, called the black palmer in 

 this book. Always remember, as a rule, that the larger 

 the river the smaller the flies it throws up. Flies for 

 brooks should always be rather large. 



The stretcher fly should be attached to the cast with 

 the ordinary fisherman's knot. When using only one 

 drop fly, put it on the cast three- and- a-half feet from the 

 leading one ; but when three flies are used they should 

 be one yard apart. The gut attached to your droppers 

 should be three inches long for small flies, and two-and-a- 

 half inches for large ones. 



CASTING. 



THE great fault with many fishermen with the 

 single-handed rod is, that they use the arm and shoul- 

 der in casting, and throwing thus, it is impossible to 

 cast either neatly or with great accuracy, the propelling 

 power should be given entirely with the wrist, and the top 

 of the rod should do the chief of the work in throwing ; 

 any other method of casting is flogging the water, but 

 certainly not fly fishing. It is the most difficult thing for 



