False Casts to Dry the Fly 



dry-fly, in order to float readily, must 

 always be kept as free from superflu- 

 ous moisture as possible. Therefore, 

 after each cast the fly must be driven 

 through the air several times, and 

 when the fly gets very wet, many 

 times. As a rule three or four false 

 casts will be sufficient to dry the fly; 

 at other times, when for some reason 

 the fly has become thoroughly soaked, 

 twenty or thirty trips through the air 

 may be necessary. 



In order to become a proficient fly- 

 fisherman the angler must learn to 

 use his left hand skilfully in manipu- 

 lating the line. The reel is an abso- 

 lute necessity for holding the line, and 

 for taking it in when there is too much 

 line out for convenience. But in re- 

 trieving it, after a cast up-stream, the 

 reel must not be depended upon, but 

 the line must be stripped in with the 



[51] 



