FLY-FISHING. 91 



So much for throwing. Now for what few 

 finishing touches I can think of. Avoid, if you 

 can, going too close to the edge of the water. 

 Throw, if you are an fait enough to do it well, 

 rather for the fly to become suspended across 

 the wind, than directly down the wind ; as it 

 then falls still lighter, and from this circum- 

 stance, of course, more likely to deceive a large 

 fish. Prefer dropping the fly just under a bush 

 or hedge, or in an eddy, to the open river, be- 

 cause your line is then more obscured from the 

 light, and the largest fish generally monopolize 

 the possession of such places, in order to find, 

 and devour, the more flies and insects ; and, 

 also, to lie near their places of security. If the 

 spot is quite calm, watch the first good fish 

 that rises, avail yourself immediately of the rip- 

 ple that has been made by the fish himself; and 

 drop in your fly a little above where he last rose. 

 Never let your line lie too long, as, by so do- 

 ing, you either expose your tackle to the fish by 

 leaving it stationary, or draw the line in so close, 

 that you lose both the power of striking your 

 fish, if he rises, and that of getting a good sweep 

 for your next throw. "The first fall of the fty> 

 in fishing, is like the first sight of a bird in pre- 

 senting a gun always the best. 



KILLING YOUR FISH. A small fish is of 

 course, not even worth the wear and tear of a 



