SALMON - ANGLING. 73 



dead water, when a very long cast, you may throw straight 

 out, bringing your fly round, by keeping the point of the 

 rod up instead of down stream. There is an under-handed 

 throw much in use on the Spey, which prevents the line 

 from circling behind. Of course this is a great advantage 

 among trees or other obstacles. It is generally practised 

 up stream, and the line with its swish upon the water goes 

 over all the fish before they see the fly, which appears to 

 me a great objection. These Spey-fishers can throw this 

 under-handed cast as far as an expert hand in the ordinary 

 way. A peculiar rod is necessary, which must be very 

 stiff. Indeed, a common salmon-rod would be apt to break 

 in the hands of these fishers. The cast is easily learned, 

 and must be seen to be thoroughly understood. 



Large rivers require a large rather than a gaudy fly, 

 which must decrease in size as the river narrows. Rapid 

 brawling streams, on the contrary, take a gaudy fly rather 

 than a large one. There are many Highland burns where 

 salmon and sea-trout ascend in numbers in the autumn. 

 These being generally shallow and rapid, a large fly would 

 frighten as many as it would attract. If you fish with a 

 small hook of sober colour in such troubled water, it might 

 not catch their sight. Streams of this kind are in best 

 order when tumbling over stock and stone something the 

 colour of London porter. The reason that a large fly of 

 sombre hue is preferred for a stately river, arises from the 

 depth, and clearness of the water. A large fly is required 

 to catch attention of fish at the bottom, while gay colours 

 would be apt to alarm them as they come up, when the 



