F L Y-F ISHING IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER 



understand each other at least, on this cast busi- 

 ness. I say that the " hand " fly is the one nearest 

 my hand; the "point" fly is the one I point at 

 the spot where I think a fish lies ; and the " drop- 

 per " (for want of a better name, as all flies are 

 droppers when cast), the middle fly. What say 

 you, boys? " 



"Agreed! Agreed!" and the matter then and 

 there was settled.. May all good, sensible anglers 

 go and do likewise. 



Mendy used but one fly, and gave the following 

 as his reason therefor: 



''' I have never caught, except on rare occasions, 

 more than a single bass at a time, and more than 

 once I have lost a good fish which had taken my 

 middle fly, was nearly exhausted, and well-nigh 

 landed, when with a splurge and a quick snap an- 

 other and bigger one struck my point fly, which 

 was made by the game fight of the first fish to 

 zig-zag across the current more like the struggles 

 of a live bug than any simulated motion I could 

 give the artificial one through the medium of my 

 rod. No, boys, you can't catch more than one 

 good fish on one hook, say I, and I '11 have none 

 of your triplex casts." 



" Bosh! " said Gills. " I Ve caught two bass at 

 a time repeatedly, and if there is a grain of reason 

 about your protest, why, the more danger of los- 

 ing, the more skill in saving. I 'd like to strike 



