408 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



The length of your line, to a man that knows how to 

 handle his rod, and to cast it, is no manner of incumbrance, 

 excepting in woody places, and in landing of a fish, which 

 every one that can afford to angle for pleasure has some- 

 body to do for him ; and the length of line is a mighty 

 advantage to the fishing at a distance ; and to fish fine, and 

 far off, is the first and principal rule for trout angling. 



Your line in this case should never be less, nor ever exceed 

 two hairs next to the hook ; for one (though some, I know, 

 will pretend to more art than their fellows) is indeed too 

 few, the least accident, with the finest hand, being sufficient 

 to break it : but he that cannot kill a trout of twenty inches 

 long with two, in a river clear of wood and weeds, as this 

 and some others of ours are, deserves not the name of an 

 angler. 



Now, to have your whole line as it ought to be, two of 

 the first lengths nearest the hook should be of two hairs 

 apiece ; the next three lengths above them of three ; the 

 next three above them of four ; and so of five, and six, and 

 seven, to the very top ; by which means your rod and 

 tackle will, in a manner, be taper from your very hand to 

 your hook ; your line will fall much better and straighter, 

 and cast your fly to any certain place to which the hand 

 and eye shall direct it, with less weight and violence, that 

 would otherwise circle the water, and fright away the fish. 



In casting your line, do it always before you, and so that 

 your fly may first fall upon the water, and as little of your 

 line with it as is possible ; though if the wind be stiff, you 

 will then of necessity be compelled to drown a good part of 

 your line to keep your fly in the water ; and in casting your 

 fly, you must aim at the farther or nearer bank as the wind 



