MAV-FLV FISHING. 37 l 



obviated, or at least delayed until the fly is below the feeding- 

 place of the trout, by throwing the line in a curve with the 

 convex side directed up stream, and until the pressure of the 

 water has deflected this curve into a straight or concave line no 

 drag can take place. In a very wide stream, with the current 

 throughout nearly uniform in force, the same tendency to drag 

 exists, and the same remedy can be applied. 



Another place where the artificial fly travels more quickly 

 than the natural insect is where the fish is rising on a smooth 

 glide immediately above a rapid run, and in this case the drag 

 can be delayed until the fly is below the fish by throwing a very 

 slack line — that is, placing the fly with the last yard or so of the 

 gut extended, and the upper part of the cast and a portion of 

 the reel line loosely or in curves on the water. The check 

 referred to in the instructions for making a cast is the most 

 effective method of producing this result, and it is far easiest to 

 accomplish when wading in a direct line below the fish. 



If a fish is rising in a slow running bay, the artificial fly cast 

 with a tight line will be carried down at the pace of the faster 

 stream outside, and in this case again the slack line is the only 

 means of preventing the drag. With a strong wind blowing 

 straight up stream a fly cast in the ordinary way, and fished 

 from directly below, will be dragged down by the extended line 

 from the moment it reaches the water until it has floated a 

 short distance, and thus left slack line below the fly. To 

 prevent this keep the point of the rod well up until the fly has 

 landed on the water, then at once drop the hand and rod-point 

 so as to slacken the line. 



When the lower part of the reel line lies on an eddy, it will 

 cause the fly to drag by making it float more slowly than the 

 pace of the stream. Slack line will naturally delay this. When 

 drifting or using the half-drift, the line as it commences to 

 tighten delays the pace of the fly, and thus causes it to drag. 

 Plenty of slack, lowering the hand as the fly travels, and even 

 walking slowly down the bank, will retard this. 



In a small eddy where the natural insects float in a direction 



