72 SALMON - ANGLING. 



foaming and boiling when the river was large, then come 

 into prime order. The resorts of salmon, however, are 

 much more easily detected when the river is low. This 

 state of the water also requires considerable difference 

 in the fly, chiefly in size. In my opinion, most salmon- 

 fishers use too large hooks. 



A stranger will often find his guide's knowledge superior 

 to his practice ; and that is the reason why the lower 

 orders frequently excel those who might appear to a 

 spectator to throw a better and finer line. Some anglers 

 have an additional piece to screw on to their rods for long 

 casts ; a very thin butt is required when this piece is not 

 added, and it is more apt to twist the rod. If equal in 

 other respects, a man who has the power of throwing a 

 very long line has the same advantage over a less gifted 

 friend, in this particular, that a far-killing gun has over an 

 inferior one, both in the same skilful hands. I should, 

 therefore, advise every aspirant to excellence in salmon- 

 fishing to attain this knack in the greatest possible per- 

 fection. 



Some anglers who throw the longest line make it swirl 

 out upon the water, the hook appearing to alight last. 

 Others cause the fly to hover for a moment, and touch 

 the water before any part of the line. These last appear 

 the neater fishers, but the others command more water. 

 In fishing a salmon-cast, throw a point down stream, 

 bringing your hook gradually round by short jerks, but 

 always keep it two points against the stream, and never 

 bring it in so straight towards you as in trout-fishing. In 



