42 



between those places where the current is strongest, 

 taking care so to manage your line as not to get it 

 entangled. When fishing with natural flies, all the 

 other haunts of the different fish which we have 

 elsewhere mentioned should be frequented. Let 

 the fly just reach the surface of the water, and go 

 gently down the stream ; the top of your rod should 

 be a little raised, and the bait kept in motion upon 

 the surface, by gently raising, lowering, and draw- 

 ing it to and fro. When a fish takes your bait, 

 after a moment strike smartly ; and, if he be not so 

 large as to break your tackle, lift him out imme- 

 diately ; for by playing with him you may, pro- 

 bably, scare away others. 



The best mode of keeping natural flies, is in a 

 horn bottle made in the shape of a cone, with a 

 wooden bottom, in which several holes must be 

 pierced; which should be sufficiently numerous to 

 afford the flies air, but s none of them large enough 

 to suffer your smallest bait to escape; a cork must 

 be obtained to fit the upper or smaller end, so that 

 you may take your baits out, one by one, without 

 losing any. If the flies be kept in a common box, 

 there is a great chance of half a dozen flying out 

 every time you lift the cover. 



ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING. 



Artificial fly-fishing is by far the most difficult 

 part of angling; much time and practice are 

 required to make the tyro an adept in it; by theory 

 it can never be attained; a few months instruction, 

 under an experienced person, will be more beneficial 

 toward its acquirement than the perusal of all the 

 works extant on the subject. With the preliminary 



