SOME MORE FLY DRESSING 135 



on both sides, so as to balance accurately and to swim 

 smoothly, and any excess of bulk is to be deprecated. 



It is not only the fly fished down-stream, or across and 

 down, which hangs against the stream. A dropper on an 

 upstream cast does so too if the angler be handling his 

 rod as he should. By keeping the rod point forward and 

 drawing it to right or left, so as to ensure the cast of flies 

 swinging as soon as possible perpendicularly athwart the 

 stream, the angler ensures that each of his droppers is 

 drawn by the current so as to come over the water he is 

 fishing in advance of the cast to which it is attached. The 

 more smoothly the fly comes, the more perfectly it suggests 

 a natural insect. Hence the importance of a good entry. 

 It may be suggested that GreenwelTs Glory, constructed 

 with split wings, set upright and rather forward, and yet 

 a very successful fly, cannot be said to be consistent with 

 this principle. The answer is that GreenwelTs Glory so 

 tied is a point fly for upstream fishing, and should never be 

 fished with a drag against the stream. 



QUALITY IN FLY-DRESSING MATERIALS. 



About the work of even the poorest and shoddiest 

 professional fly dresser there is a certain snap and certainty 

 of execution to which the best amateur but seldom attains. 

 Yet in two respects even the best professional work falls 

 short of that of the competent amateur — knowledge of the 

 effect that he is groping after and command of the materials 

 to produce it. It occasionally happens (as in the case of 

 the late Mr. R. S. Austin) that the professional is also an 

 amateur, with first-hand knowledge of the river and its 

 flies, and then the supremely good work may be attained 

 if, as in his case, his conscience will not let him put up 

 with and issue to his customers inadequate materials. 



It may be that it is not possible for the houses that 

 dress flies in bulk to obtain the requisite materials in 



