To throw against Wind. 57 



as soon as you see a fish rise within reach of them ; and 

 if you miss him, immediately throw beyond and above 

 him and draw or let them float gently over the place ; if he 

 fancy one, he will take it. Always carefully watch that you 

 may strike at the first rising of the fish if you can, and, 

 lest you should not see when you have a rise, strike as 

 soon as you see the line go from you ; and keep your fly 

 always in constant motion in order that it may appear 

 the more natural. 



By making a long cast, in the way just described, the 

 stinting comes down so lightly that you can scarcely 

 distinguish where it breaks the surface of the water. 

 In throwing a very long line, suppose to the opposite 

 brae side where a fish is feeding close to land, I gene- 

 rally adopt the Left-round cast or throw, as the line, 

 I imagine, is more easily directed this way in such a 

 cast, and falls more naturally from the hand and rod 

 on the water. For this very long throw I bring my 

 rod round to the left in front of me, and so deliver the 

 line by the right side, sending the arm forward vigor- 

 ously, the wrist and thumb also having made that 

 smart thrust, before spoken of, at the exact time, when 

 the line was well behind, so that it rolls out and falls 

 over on the quiet pool like a wave on the beach, the 

 flies alternately lighting like snow-flakes on its surface. 

 When there is much wind this is the only way to make 

 a good long cast against it ; and it is very necessary, in 

 such a case, to thrust your arm well forward when de- 

 livering the line, in the same way you do a cricket-ball 

 when you wish it to tell upon the " timbers." In general 

 fishing, however, a very slight movement forward with the 

 fore-arm is sufficient. In Fly-fishing it is necessary to cast 

 frequently, particularly in clear streams, for in that case 

 the flies must be kept continually on the move and as 

 little immersed as possible. It is always on this account 



