440 BEST'S ART OF ANGLING. 



" Upon the curling surface, let it glide, 

 " With nat'ral motion from youi hand -supply'd, 

 <c Against tlie stream now gently let it play, 

 " Now in the rapid eddy float away." 



Let the line be twice as long as the rod, unless 

 the river is encumbered with wood: and always 

 stand as far off the bank as the length of your 

 line will permit, when you cast the fly to the 

 contrary side; but if the wind blows so that you 

 must throw your line on the same side you are 

 on, stand on the very brink of the river, and cast 

 your fly at the utmost length of the rod and line, 

 up or clown the stream as the wind serves. 



You must have a quick sharp eye, and active 

 hand, to strike directly a fish rises : or else, find- 

 ing the mistake, he will throw out the hook . 



Small light-coloured flies are for clear waters 

 and clear atmospheres ; large dark-coloured^'^ 

 when vice versa. 



When, after rain, the water becomes brown- 

 ish, an orange-coloured^/??/ is taken greedily. 



When fishes rise at the fly very otfen and yet 

 never take it, you may conclude that it is not 

 what they like : therefore change it for the one 

 they do. 



When you see a fish rise, throw your fly over 

 him, and draw it gently over the place where he 

 rose ; and if it is a proper fly for the season, and 

 you cast it with a nicety, the fish is your own. 



When you angle in slow- running rivers, or 

 -still places, with an artificial fly^ cast it across 

 the water, and let it sink a little in the water, 

 and then draw it gently over to yen*, again, letting 

 the current carry it slowly down : this is the 

 best way for slow waters ; but for quick ones 

 your fly must always swim on the top, under the 



