KIND OF WATER FOR FLOAT-FISHING. 225 



slung in, but not cast, as far up stream as it will reach, 

 when it must be allowed to glide gently down with the 

 current, and the angler must follow it for a few yards 

 down, and then return a few times to the same spot to 

 repeat the same process, so as to fish each given space 

 of water completely, and give every fish lying there a 

 fair chance to make up his mind to take or refuse it 

 as he chooses. The first trials must of course be made 

 close in by the edge of the bank, and gradually cast 

 farther into mid-stream at each successive trip, so as 

 both to avoid exposure at first to the view of such fish 

 as may be lying close in shore, and to ensure the whole 

 of the water being properly fished in turn. 



Having thus completed a stretch of ten or fifteen 

 yards of water at a time, as far into mid-stream as he 

 can reach, he must take up a fresh position a few yards 

 farther down, and proceed as before, until every bit of 

 likely water is carefully gone over. 



DEEP on OPAQUE WATERS BEST. 



As in float-fishing the angler is compelled to stand 

 so near the water as to hold the tip of his rod verti- 

 cally, or nearly so, over the float, it can only be suc- 

 cessfully practised in waters of considerable depth, as 

 well as in those of rather an opaque character ; where 

 both the sportsman, rod, and float, will be invisible to 

 the fish at the bottom. A good stiff breeze to produce 

 a roughish curl on the surface is also a material 

 auxiliary ; while in ponds and waters destitute of a 



