22 ANGLING. 



CHAPTER III. 

 SURFACE OR FLY FISHING. 



THIS is the most skilful and artistic method of fishing of 

 any. It is divided into fishing with the real, and fishing 

 with the artificial fly. In the first method, a real fly, as a 

 Mayfly, shorn fly, bluebottle, or some other large fly, is 

 used ; a fine hook is carefully passed through the thorax, 

 and the bait is then dropped or cast on the surface of the 

 water. In the first case the mode of working the fly is 

 what is termed " dibbing," or " daping." The angler 

 with a line about half the length of the rod, and with a 

 good long light rod, a yard or so of fine gut, and a hook 

 suited to his bait notes some spot where a fish is rising, 

 and going cautiously behind any bush or stump that will 

 shelter him from the eyes of the fish, he protrudes his rod 

 gently over the water, and allows his bait to fall on the 

 surface of the water about two or three feet, or more if 

 need be, above the fish, and lets the stream bear it down 

 over the fish's head ; if the fish rises he gives him just 

 two seconds to get the bait or fly well in his mouth, then 

 strikes, not too hard, and gets his fish out with as little 

 disturbance as possible. This method of fishing is used 

 chiefly for trout, though it is also employed for chub, 

 when a cockchafer or grasshopper, &c., is used. The 

 great thing to study is concealment from the fish. There 



