CHAP. V.] THE SECOND DAT. 387 



to the fishing at distance; and to ftshfine, andjfar-o^j is the 

 first and principal rule for trout-angling. 1 



Your line in this case should never be less, nor ever 

 exceed two hairs next to the hook ; for one (though some I 

 know will pretend to more art than their fellows) is indeed 

 too few, the least accident, with the finest hand, being suffi- 

 cient to break it ; but he that cannot kill a trout of twenty 

 inches long with two, in a river clear of wood and weeds, as 

 this and some other of ours are, deserves not the name of 

 an angler. 



Now to have your whole line as it ought to be, two of 

 the first lengths nearest the hooks should be of two hairs 

 a-piece ; the next three lengths above them of three ; the 

 next three above them of four; and so of five, and six, 

 and seven, to the very top : by which means your rod and 

 tackle will, in a manner, be taper from your very hand to 

 your hook ; your line will fall much better and straighter, 

 and cast your fly to any certain place to which the hand and 

 eye shall direct it, with less weight and violence, than would 

 otherwise circle the water and fright away the fish. 



In casting your line, 2 do it always before you, and so that 

 your fly may first fall upon the water, and as little of your 

 line with it as is possible ; though if the wind be stiff, you 

 will then of necessity be compelled to drown a good part of 



1 An artist may easily throw twelve yards of line with one hand ; and 

 with two he may easily throw eighteen. H. A veteran suggests that 

 no one is fairly entitled to be called an " artist," who cannot readily throw 

 his fly into a pint pot at the latter distance ! 



2 Till you are a proficient, every throw will go near to cost you a hook : 

 therefore practise for some time without one. H. One day's instruction 

 from an experienced fly-fisher will teach the tyro more than all the direc- 

 tions ever written; nevertheless, we annex Mr. Taylor's rules: "When 

 your rod and line are prepared, let out the line about half as long again 

 as the rod : and holding the rod, properly, in one hand, and the line 

 just above the fly, in the other, give your rod a motion from right to left, 

 and as you move it backwards, in order to throw out the line, dismiss the 

 line from your hand at the same time, and try several throws at this 

 length. Then let out more line, and try that, still using more and more 

 till you can manage any length needful ; but about nine yards is quite 

 sufficient for a learner to practise with. And observe, that in raising your 

 line, in order to throw it again, you should wave the rod a little round 

 your head, and not bring it directly backwards : nor must you return the 

 line until it has streamed its full length behind you, or you will certainly 

 whip off your fly. There is great art in making your line fall light on the 



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