CASTING AS A BEGINNER. 13 



petual hitching up in grass, branches, or brambles 

 forms a somewhat wearying drudgery which 

 every beginner has to go through and finally 

 conquer. How well we all know that distracting 

 moment when, after getting out the exact length 

 of line required to reach the rising fish, the fly 

 is caught by the neck of a malignant buttercup 

 far back in the meadow behind, or perhaps 

 worse, by a small bramble which is absolutely 

 hanging over the fish. How often in such 

 positions have we crept back and carefully 

 decapitated with scissors every flower or leaf 

 which seemed likely to prove an obstacle, or 

 crawled forward venire a terre and chin in 

 nettles with creel and landing net swinging 

 round under our knees, to free the fly from its 

 place over a trout's nose. Talk of an angler's 

 patience, why the exasperation of such moments 

 is without equal. If a cow treads on your top 

 joint you have something to address your 

 remarks to and you can blame your own care- 

 lessness for leaving your rod on the grass. 

 Or if a bat takes your best fly at a time when 

 you can scarcely see to thread on another. 

 But the puff of wind which springs up actually 

 after your correct cast is made and wafts your 

 fly into the aforesaid bramble does not stop to 

 listen. It has moved upstream with the fish 

 and leaves you with your perspiration and 

 expletives. 



But what is the bright side of the picture 

 and how well is the game worth the candle if 

 the whole scheme works successfully and the fly 



