148 TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WIND. 



the accomplished artificial fly-fisher, arming him- 

 self with the proper tackle, will be able to throw 

 a very considerable distance the natural insect, 

 no matter what its size may be. Mr. Elaine, 

 however, goes on to say, " Practice will convince 

 the angler that large natural baits cannot be 

 thrown to any distance with advantage ; the fact 

 is, that they are far more appropriate to situations 

 close under the land, where the large fishes fre- 

 quently lie, especially in ponds, waiting for what 

 the wind may tender to them. When, however, 

 there is a very strong wind at the back, the na- 

 tural fly may be carried out to a very considerable 

 extent ; but it must be by the act of the wind 

 itself, and then the practice proves very success- 

 ful : at other times the angler must be content to 

 fish with as much line as he can command by his 

 situation, without tearing his fly from his hook. 

 With a strong wind, the angler should keep his 

 rod steady in one position, taking the wind rather 

 slantingly behind, and allowing the breeze to 

 carry the line, he should watch a momentary stop 

 in the gale, when by lowering his hand he may 

 drop the fly on the surface as gently and as natu- 

 rally as possible." 



The drake season, that is, the season of the May- 

 fly, from the middle of May to the end of June, 

 is the best period for dibbing, and the May-fly is 



