FLY-FISHING, &C. 35 



is to fish with a line about half the length of your 

 rod ; but if there is wind stirring, with as much 

 as it will carry out ; but you need hardly ever fish 

 with more than the first length, as dibbling must 

 ,be performed as near as possible to the bank that 

 you stand on ; therefore a long rod and a short 

 line is the best, which you will command with 

 ease, and be able to shelter yourself from the 

 sight of the fishes, behind bushes, stumps of 

 trees, &c. The line you dib with should be very 

 strong ; for when you have struck a good fish, 

 you will have a hard bout with him before you 

 hill him, for want of a greater length of line : 

 therefore, whenever I dib I always use a ringed 

 rod, with a winch for my line fixed on it, by 

 which means I can always keep my line to any 

 length, without the trouble of changing it ; and 

 when 1 have hooked a good fish, can always give 

 him as much scope as 1 think necessary, and kill 

 him with great ease and certainty ; this method 

 I would by all means advise the angler to use, 

 who will be thoroughly convinced of its utility at 

 the first trial he makes. Let the top of your rod 

 be a stiff one. When you see a fish rise near you, 

 guide your fly over him immediately, and he is 

 your own if the fly you use is strong on the wa- 

 ter. When you dib for chub, roach, and dace, 

 move your fly very slow when you see them make 

 at it, or let the stream carry it down towards 

 them : if it be in a still, deep, shady hole, 

 draw the fly sideways by them, and they will 

 always eagerly pursue it. The roach takes flies 

 the best a little under water. The best for the 

 angler's use in this method of angling are as 

 follow : 



