302 FISHING GOSSIP. 



Throwing our flies, partly up and partly across from 

 where we are standing, we allow them to swim 

 down a yard or two, when we cast again, never 

 allowing them to go below that part of the stream 

 opposite us. But though the angler gets over the 

 ground as quickly this way, and casts as often, as if 

 he were fishing up, yet he has not the same chance, 

 because if a trout catches sight of his flies just as 

 he is lifting them, their sudden abstraction may deter 

 it from taking them on their again alighting ; whereas 

 in fishing up the angler casts a yard or two further up 

 every time, so that every trout may see his flies at 

 the moment they alight. 



The reader must not suppose, however, that fishing 

 up is all that is necessary for success ; on the con- 

 trary, the angler may throw his flies up stream, and 

 know less of the art of fly-fishing, and catch fewer 

 trout, than his neighbour who is fishing down. The 

 mere fact of an angler throwing his flies up stream is 

 no proof that he is a fly-fisher. Of those who fish 

 down stream, some catch more and some less, and in 

 like manner with those fishing up, one may catch 

 three times as many as another, depending upon the 

 particular method they each adopt ; and unless the 

 reader pays strict attention to the details referred to 

 in our Practical Angler, we are afraid he will not 

 derive much benefit. Fishing up is much more dif- 

 ficult than fishing down, requiring more practice, and 



