322 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



drop-fly ; the greater size and weight being at the end of the 

 leader, enables the angler to cast further, and with more pre- 

 cision. And the consequent greater resistance in drawing it 

 over the surface, keeps the leader taut and the dropper more 

 at right angles with it, than if the reverse was the rule. 



The distance between the stretcher and drop-fly should be 

 proportioned to the general length of the cast. In fishing 

 where it is more convenient to cast a short line say of 

 eighteen or twenty feet the flies should not be more than 

 thirty inches apart. This distance between the flies is more 

 suitable to the beginner ; but as practice enables him to throw 

 a longer line, the dropper may be moved further up the 

 leader, until four, or even four and a half, feet may intervene. 



The stretcher should be tied to the end of the leader by 

 the common water-knot, which is illustrated on page 409, 

 and the dropper fastened, as shown by figure 3, on the same 

 diagram. The pieces of gut on which droppers are dressed, 

 should be stiff, and not more than five or six inches in length. 

 If the angler fishes with two drop-flies (though more than 

 one is seldom used), the upper should be twelve inches or so 

 above the first dropper. The leader should not be more than 

 three-fourths of the length of the rod, i. e., nine feet for a 

 twelve-foot rod. With the beginner it should not exceed six 

 feet, for a short line, if light at the end, is not as easily cast 

 by the novice as a heavy one. A good large-sized hook also 

 will make casting easier, in his first attempt. He should not 

 commence with more than one dropper. 



Frank Forester recommends a leader of fifteen feet. This 

 length would make it impossible for the angler to reel up his 

 fish within reach of his landing-net, as the knot which fastens 

 the line to the leader, and those by which the different gut- 

 lengths are joined, would catch in the wire loop at the end of 

 the tip, or in the rings, and, as a consequence, the fish could 

 not be brought near enough to put the landing-net under it. 



