56 To fait fine and far off. 



can well catch sight of them. Moreover, if he should see 

 them dragged over him in so unnatural a way they 

 would only scare him. Throwing into such difficult places 

 is only to be performed by an adept in the art ; and the 

 tyro will only vex himself if he does nothing but try 

 to throw his point-fly on the water every cast he makes, 

 for in regular fishing this is by no means requisite. 



To fish fine and far o/is one of the greatest excellencies 

 in general Fly-fishing. In using a very long line, which 

 you have to do for this purpose, it is next to impossible 

 with a short rod to make the point-fly beat on the water 

 first. In making a long throw across a smooth pool, 

 which is the place to test good throwing and in which to 

 kill most fish, the following is the practice that I 

 have invariably adopted : Bring your rod well up, round, 

 and back, causing your line to make a fine sweep, and 

 with a strong sharp effort of the wrist cast your line so 

 that it may beat on the water about half way from the 

 point desired, your rod-top coming down from the sweep 

 nearly to the water, and pointing to the spot you wish 

 your fly to fall upon ; raise the point at this juncture, 

 and the line will run on the water with a fine wave-like 

 curl, growing less and less until the end-fly falls as 

 lightly as a feather upon the smooth water. By this 

 means the stinting unfurls itself so lightly through its 

 whole length, that you can only guess where it is by the 

 gentle dimples your flies make as they drop one by one 

 upon the surface of the glassy pool. 



It is seldom necessary to throw more than once or 

 twice over the same spot in general places. If you do not 

 rise a fish at the second cast it is almost certain that he 

 has just dined. If, however, the water is very rapid and 

 strong a cast or two more will not be amiss, frequent 

 throwing being always practised by skilful Fly-fishers. 



If you cannot discern your flies upon the water, strike 



