HINTS TO DRY-FLY FISHERMEN. 121 



being aroused by some slight mistake is ever in- 

 creasing. After the fly has once been wetted, it 

 must not be returned at once to the water, but 

 thoroughly dried by making a series of false casts 

 backwards and forwards in the air, so as to free the 

 hackle, wings, and body from all moisture. In the 

 act of " drying the fly," as this process of wafting it 

 to and fro is called, as well as in the act of throwing, 

 I need scarcely caution the experienced fly-fisher 

 to give ample time to the line to travel out to its 

 full extent before returning it, neglect of this pre- 

 caution causing the fly to be " cracked off" and 

 necessitating the loss of fly as well as time, and 

 occasionally temper, in knotting on a fresh one. 



As to " cocking," as before remarked, hackle- 

 flies are invariably in their natural position when 

 floating, but, when fishing winged-flies, the over- 

 handed cast in general use among Anglers will be 

 successful, possibly, once out of four casts. The 

 reason of this probably is that when the fly touches 

 the water any excess of force put into the throw, 

 not being expended, causes a further forward 

 motion of the line or gut cast, and this topples the 

 fly over on to its side. The horizontal or " under- 

 handed cast " should be used wherever practicable ; 

 the entire secret of it consists in keeping the rod, 

 whether returning or throwing, in a horizontal posi- 

 tion or parallel to the surface of the stream. 



This cast will " cock " a thoroughly dry fly at 

 least three times out of four, and the reason of this 



