334 Fly-rods (md Fly-tackle. 



ticed that without relaxing the grip of the rod the line 

 may be firmly nipped or allowed to render freely from 

 the reel by simply closing or slightly raising the first 

 finger. Then if it is desired to fish over more water 

 than would be possible if the rod alone was relied on to 

 move the fly, the rod may be gradually raised to the 

 most advantageous angle for the strike and kept in that 

 position, while the movement of the fly is continued by 

 drawing in the line with the free hand, raising the fin- 

 ger while the line is drawn in, and closing the finger 

 down on the line and rod handle when the free hand 

 has drawn in all the line it can and must reach up for a 

 fresh hold. Thus the fly can be well fished over all the 

 water between the caster and the extreme limit he is 

 able to cast. This method is very advantageous in fish- 

 ing still water, or, indeed, all water where a rise may 

 happen at any part of the path the fly so handled may 

 traverse. Personally I employ this method constantly 

 in my own fishing, using the reel comparatively little. 

 If I fasten a fish, I let the line run out between the 

 thumb and first finger of the free hand the hand that 

 is not holding the rod pressing the line more or less 

 according to the resistance it seems advisable to impose 

 upon the fish. When fishing from a canoe or boat I 

 allow the line to drop upon the bottom of the canoe at 

 my feet as I draw it in, being careful, however, not to 

 step on it. If wading, the loop of the line falls in the 

 water and runs down with the current. If fishing from 

 the bank the length of the loop is so limited that it 

 shall not reach the ground, lest it either catch on some- 

 thing, or sand adhere to the wet line and so be drawn 

 into the reel when the line is ultimately wound up on it. 

 This method has a further advantage. The cardinal 



