CLASSES OF CONDITIONS 133 



so that the north wind is a downstream wind, or what 

 the old school of writers would consider an unfavour- 

 able one. Given a good hatch of fly, a downstream 

 is more favourable than an upstream wind, because 

 while the latter tends to lift the fly as soon as the wings 

 are dry and erect, the former will ever force the dun 

 down on to the water and cause it to float much further 

 before taking to wing and flying ashore. In a previous 

 chapter I hope I have convinced my reader that cast- 

 ing against the wind, unless it is a perfect hurricane, 

 will present no difficulty to the man who can cast. 



The reader must not magnify my statements. I 

 am no lover of casting against a gale of wind, nor 

 have I ever suggested that this is a favourable con- 

 dition. What I do suggest as a favourable condition 

 is a light downstream wind and as a most un- 

 favourable one a gale blowing in any direction and 

 especially upstream. 



There are exceptions to every rule, and no ex- 

 perienced dry-fly man can say with truth that he has 

 invariably found a south or south-westerly wind 

 productive of poor hatches and bad sport. Nor can 

 he aver that under all conditions is a northerly wind 

 a precursor of a great hatch and a big bag. As said 

 before, the only safe rule is for the angler to start as 

 soon after breakfast as he can, and remain at the 

 river-side until nearly dark, watching the water and 

 studying the fish so as to take full advantage of the 

 chances that a beneficent providence throws in his 

 way. 



