Sahnon-fishing — Catching the Fish. 133 



rod; and D, where the fly lights upon the water. The 

 rod is retained in the position AJB until the fly has 

 swung through the path D E. The rod is then shifted 

 to the position A C, and retained there until the fly has 

 swung to F, when a third similar change may be made if 

 salmon may be expected still nearer the bank. During 

 all this time the tip of the rod has been vibrating as 

 hereinbefore described, if the angler practises that 

 method of displaying his fly. 



That the fly should attract the attention of the fish be- 

 fore the leader, and more especially before the line, is ob- 

 vious. 



If the current is more rapid nearer the angler than it is 

 where the fly lights, the line will be swept down stream 

 faster than the fly. A belly is thus thrown in the line 

 which will travel first, while the fly will come tagging 

 along behind — clearly a very undesirable condition of 

 affairs. The character of the current in this respect 

 should not escape the attention of the angler. If it is 

 unequal, to show the fly in an attractive manner to a 

 more limited yet appreciative number of spectators, is far 

 better than to pass it before the nose of every fish in the 

 river, if it be only to excite their derision and contempt 

 for the transparency of the fraud. 



Two courses are open to the angler under such circum- 

 stances, alike in that they embody the same principle, 

 though differing as to the means employed. The object 

 is to handicap the line by giving the fly an earlier start 

 in the race. This may be done by casting more obliquely 

 down stream, or by switching the tip of the rod up 

 stream the moment the fly alights on the water, and thus 

 throwing ,the belly of the line up the current. In either 



