STRATEGY 173 



directly to the end of the leader, using the turle knot. 

 Flies for dry fly fishing are usually number ten or 

 twelve and are tied with hard bodies and with wings 

 and hackles designed to increase their buoyancy. In 

 addition the flies are usually treated with an oil to in- 

 crease their floating qualities. Atomizers and bottle 

 equipped with brushes are furnished by the tackle shops 

 to carry and apply the oil but I prefer two pieces of 

 saturated felt carried in a " vanity box " such as the 

 ladies use to " powder their noses " ; an ordinary tin 

 salve box will do. I have my oil box equipped with a 

 ring to which I fasten a key chain, the other end going 

 on a button of my wading jacket. I carry scissors 

 the same way. Only the body and hackles of dry 

 flies need be oiled. 



The dry fly fisher always fishes up stream. He 

 wades carefully and slowly. When he extends his 

 line for the first cast neither the line nor fly is per- 

 mitted to touch the water until the fly is traveling 

 through the air three or four feet beyond the point 

 where he expects to get his fish. Then it is permitted 

 to alight gently on the water and to float over the 

 likely spot, care being taken to make it float as life-like 

 as possible and to avoid drag of line or leader pulling 

 it under or upsetting it. If no rise is forthcoming the 

 fly is floated a few feet farther down when it is picked 

 off the water and more false casts are made to extend 

 the line for another attempt and to dry the fly. Dur- 

 ing this whipping the line back and forth the angler 

 cautiously advances a few feet to cast over fresh water, 



