FLY-FISHING FOR TROUT II5 



the fly in this style must be cast icp stream, not 

 down, and be allowed to float until it approaches 

 the feet of the angler. This is a deadly style of 

 fishing ; but the flies must be small, and require 

 to be made with large wings, and sometimes it is 

 advisable to use double wings ; that is, two slips 

 for each wing instead of one. 



The ordinary way of fly-fishing is, however, to 

 cast the fly down stream and across, drawing it 

 up with slightly jerking motion. This motion ex- 

 pands and contracts the fibres of the fly, and gives 

 a semblance of life, as if the insect struggled to 

 be free ; and this movement, of course, goes far 

 to hide the fraud on the fish. In dry-fly fishing 

 this movement is not made, but the fly is allowed 

 to float quite without movement ; and is neces- 

 sarily, therefore, of much closer imitation, — that 

 is, to be successful. Personally, I am an advo- 

 cate of the "exact imitation" theory, and be- 

 lieve that all imitations should be as close as 

 possible. This is, however, a refinement into 

 which the boy-angler need not be led. 



Down-stream fishing is certainly easier to prac- 

 tise, and the task of casting is much facilitated by 

 the downward and therefore pulling action of the 

 water. 



