58 How to throw in Small Brooks. 



advisable to use a line no longer than can be commanded 

 with comfort, especially in casting up strong streams, and 

 then nothing but your single-hair stinting with the flies 

 wall touch the water. The rod should not be allowed to 

 come down too near the water in casting such a light 

 line, the value of which in fine trout fishing cannot be 

 over-estimated. 



In order to fish in small brooks, where there is much 

 wood, another style of throwing has to be practised. 

 You have probably seen a coachman use his whip and 

 tickle his leaders on any particular part he wished. The 

 same movements the tyro should practise with his rod 

 and line without any hooks on, say in a garden. Here 

 he should try to throw the point of his line into, under, 

 or over any bushes, &c. in every conceivable way. For 

 by thus practising only will he gain the faculty of calcu- 

 lating distances and the power of guiding his line aright 

 towards any desired spot. In fishing becks a line only 

 the length of your rod can at times be used, and the 

 practitioner will have to angle, as I have just remarked 

 above, as if he were the coachman touching up his 

 leaders. He will here also find opportunities for exer- 

 cising his patience, skill, and observation ; for he has the 

 bushes, &c. to keep his line clear of w r hen out of the 

 water, as well as the roots and moss- covered stones, &c. 

 to avoid in it. 



Be particular, in delivering your cast or throw, not to 

 stop the rod too suddenly, but slightly raise the point of 

 your rod, and thus retard the downward motion, making 

 the line hang as it were in the air, and then it will fall 

 softly on the water. 



With regard to Fly-fishing in clear waters ; as a gene- 

 ral rule, fish up and across the pools and streams, which 

 will allow you to throw a shorter line and kill more fish. 

 Always, when possible, face wind and sun, which will 



