Fly-Fishing 31 



fly-fishing the cast is not made from the reel as in bait- 

 casting; the line is drawn from the reel a half-yard at 

 a time with the left hand. The line must fully 

 straighten itself behind the Angler ere it can be sent 

 out straight before him. The flies and at most only 

 a little part of the leader should fall lightly upon the 

 surface as we imagine two insects, entangled in a 

 delicate cobweb, might fall from a tree branch and 

 be drawn smartly but gently in little jerks a second 

 or two in imitation of two tiny live-winged bugs 

 fluttering in the water; and then, as the Angler steps 

 slowly, firmly, but silently and softly in the current 

 downstream, he should repeat the lifting of the flies, 

 the drawing off of more line from the reel, and the 

 circling backward cast that takes up the slack and 

 gives the line its forward force. Thus he should 

 continue, deftly placing the lure 'in every likely spot 

 ahead of him in the center of the brook and along its 

 moss-lined, flower-decked, jrock-bound or grass-fringed 

 banks. 



The Angler is careful not to let the trout see him, 

 see his shadow, or see the rod, and not to let this 

 wisest, most watchful species of all the finny tribes 

 hear him or feel the vibration of his body. 



In hooking the trout the Angler strikes the second 

 the fish strikes not by a violent arm movement, but 

 by a mere instantaneous nervous backward twist of 

 the wrist, as one would instinctively draw up his hand 

 from the pierce of a needle point. Many trout are 

 hooked the instant the leader is lifted for a new cast, 

 and many hook themselves without the slightest effort 

 on the part of the Angler. 



When the fish is hooked he should not be flaunted 

 in the air, as the boy fisher yanks his pond perch. 



