CH. Iv.] FISH SLOWLY—HAIR. 63 
it which cannot but frighten the fish. Although 
small fish will take a fly under such circumstances, 
as, like kittens, they will run at almost anything 
which passes rapidly by them, yet it is rarely 
that a steady old Trout can be induced to do so. 
It is even more essential, when fishing with a 
“dry fly,’ to leave it almost entirely to its own 
devices, as it will thus float much longer than 
it would if interfered with, and its movements 
unnaturally hastened. These observations do not 
apply with equal force to the bob-fly, which, tra- 
versing the surface of the water (as its name im- 
plies) with a succession of dips or bobs, might 
be taken by Trout for the natural insect. Steady 
fishing will however be found more successful 
even with the bob-fly. In casting generally, 
straightness of line is in my opinion the first 
point to be aimed at, and lightness the second. 
Both however are most essential. It should be 
a rule never to fish with a yard more line than 
is absolutely necessary. 
In some very fine, clear water, Trout can be 
taken with a hair casting-line, when it would be 
almost useless to fish with one of gut. I found 
this to be the case on the Wharfe, where the 
tackle ordinarily used consists of a hair casting- 
