FOREST AND STREAM 
359 
THE PRACTICAL FLY-FISHER. 
A CHAPTER OP INSTRUCTIONS ON ANGLINS WITH PLY. 
A T this season some practical instructions in Angling 
will be quite acceptable; and inasmuch as instruc¬ 
tion in the art is most difficult to impart through books, it 
is possible that, some hints may be conveyed here that have 
not been printed before. In fact, it may be as well to state 
that the Editor has long contemplated writing what follows, 
to supply the wants which he has felt existed. • 
Impi'iniis: The methods of casting a fly vary according 
to the character of the water to be fished—whether it he 
lake, river, or stream, or whether the angler is to wade, or 
fish from a boat, or the bank. There are a few general 
rules that govern, however; and the first to be observed is 
to keep out of sight. To enable the angler to do this a long 
cast is frequently indispensable. If fish were not shy, the 
angler might dispense with flies, and walk up boldly to the 
water and dip them out with his hands. But to cast a long 
line without bungling, requires studious practice. For a 
proper cast, the line should not ouly be delivered straight 
and evenly, without kinks, coils, or bights, but the .flies 
should be laid lightly on the water, as the natural flies 
settle. Hence the line, and the casting line, must he deli¬ 
cate in size and texture, and the flies must be small, so as 
to make no splash when they fall. It is because such fine 
tackle is required, that the handling of a heavy fish be¬ 
comes difficult; for it is apparent that to lift its weight on 
the line would part it. To relieve the strain a flexible rod 
is required; and the rod has its very important part to play 
throughout in killing the fish. The fish must be killed on 
the rod, and not on the line. To exact full service from a 
rod, a perfect ai;ch (longer or shorter,) must be maintained 
from the moment a fish is hooked until he is landed. The 
management of this arch in motion is the science of angling. 
The rod has, of course, its proper functions to perform io 
making the cast. The essential qualities of a rod are elas¬ 
ticity and stillness; first, a uniform elasticity that is evenly 
distributed and maintained throughout its length from but 
to tip; and second, that peculiar quality of stiffness which 
acts with a yielding resistance , preventing the fish from 
exerting its full strength on the hook, the leader, or the 
line, just, as elastic traces would prevent a horse from 
exerting his full strength in drawing. No rod will throw a 
line deftly unless it possesses these requisites, and in the 
selection of a rod its weight, length, and suppleness, must 
be gauged by the physical properties of the purchaser, be¬ 
cause Die same rod, like the same gun, will not serve all 
sportsmen alike. The angler ought to be able to tell when 
a rod feels well balanced in his hand, just as he does a 
billiard cue, an oar, a gun, or a croquet mallet. Given the 
rod and lino, we need such a reel as will deliver the line 
freely, yet not so rapidly as to permit it to overrun, and we 
accordingly secure a light pressure or check by the ‘‘click.” 
The click also telegraphs to the ear what the fish is doing, 
and in this way renders a service greater than is generally 
supposed. 
The importance of using small flies, even in discolored 
water, should impress itself upon the angler. Lightness 
and neatness of form are characteristics of river insects, 
and therefore a serious objection to the flies in common 
use, and at the tackle shops, is that they are much too 
bushy, thereby not only exposing their deception more 
quickly, hut preventing by masses of feathers the trout 
from hooking themselves when they xise. 
A second rule in angling is, to tread lightly along the 
streams, and when in boat, to avoid noises that cause 
vibrations. It seems to be settled by scientific tests that 
fish do not hear, but their perception through the nerves of 
"feeling is very keen, and sounds are easily communicated* 
through the water by sudden jars, the careless dropping of 
an o ar, or deep bass tones of the voice. It is well known 
that a deaf person can hear sounds of a voiedor instrument, 
if a hard wood stick be placed in his teeth, connecting with 
the object emitting the sounds. 
The angler about to whip a water should first straighten 
his snoods and leaders by soaking them in a basin of water; 
after which he can keep them tolerably straight by winding 
the cast around his hat. At a proper distance from the 
angling place, let him put his rod together, first adjusting 
the reel to its place, then the tip and second joints, and 
the second joint and but last, keeping the hands close to the 
ferules and as near together as possible.. Next reeve the 
line through the rings and draw it off from the reel until 
its length is equal to a little more than half the length of 
the rod; then, with the rod held perpendicularly, unless ad¬ 
jacent objects prevent, bend on the casting line, hook the 
tail-fly or stretcher into one of the bars of the reel, and 
wind up until the line is taut. You are then ready to pro¬ 
ceed to business. Two flies, four feet apart, are enough at 
any time, and where there are weeds, bushes or snags, or 
the trout heavy, it is wise to use only a single fly. The 
chance of hooking your fish is increased when two flies are 
on, but the chances of landing them are much diminished. 
It is unpleasant to catch a weed with one hook and a fish 
with the other, or to have two heavy fish run contrariwise 
and carry off your line. 
In fishing a stream, it is sometimes necessary to pass 
through thick brush. This can be done with dexterity, if 
the angler hold his rod horizontally, pushing it through, 
hut or tip foremost, according to circumstances, the former 
being preferable. Having approached the bank, select 
your casting place with judgment; we mean the spot where 
you propose to throw for a rise. A previous knowledge of 
a stream gives one a great advantage everyway, by enabling 
him to cast so as not to disturb the fish, and also to waste 
no time in testing inauspicious or improbable places. 
Choose also where you will land' your fish, and determine 
how to provide for any emergency that may arise. Having 
calculated the length of the line you propose to cast, see 
that you have room enough for your back line, so that you 
may avoid being hung up in trees or caught in a rock or 
stump. Note the sun, and observe that your shadow does 
not fall on the water. If it be alright calm, don’t be in a 
hurry to cast, but wait for a riffle on the water, or for the 
sun to go under a cloud, as your chances for a rise are thus 
increased ten-fold; always remembering that in trout-fishing 
nothing is gained by being in a hurry. If the wind blows 
briskly in your face, don’t attempt to cast against it-, as 
your flies will only get into the trees, but select a bend in 
the river, or wait for a more favorable opportunity. If 
you wish to cross a stream to change position, walk to 
the nearest shoal and wade to the opposite side. 
When everything is auspicious, and you are ready to 
cast, grasp your rod in the right hand above the reel, and 
hold the stretcher" fly lightly between the thumb and forp 
finger. Then throw up the tip of the rod gently, at the 
same time lettiDg go the fly, and when the line is at its full 
lengtii drop the tip and you will he surprised to see how 
gracefully the fly will light on the water twenty feet 
distant. If you discover that you are to fall short, or go 
too far, recover the line before it touches the water, and 
try agaiu. If the fly should touch the water and fail to 
provoke a rise, trail it lightly and briskly along the stream 
in a semi-circle until you are obliged to take up the slack, 
and then cast again. After casting from one stand three 
times over a spot, including the width of the stream, and 
failing of a rise, give the fish a yard more line, by drawing 
it off the reel with the left hand; then raising the rod 
smartly, take up the slack, throw the rod hack of the 
Bhoulder, and when the line has passed behind to its full 
length, project the tip forward as if you were going to 
strike the water, observing to never let the rod drop below 
a position horizontal and parallel with the water. The 
movement we have described is technically known as cast¬ 
ing. We will make it still plainer, as it must- be practised 
by one desiring to become proficient. We will suppose 
the angler standing tip to his knees in mid stream with his 
line trailing down with the current to its full length in 
front of him. Draw off enough line from the reel to 
lengthen the cast as much as is required; keep the elbow of 
the right arm at ease, but well in toward the body, and 
the wrist flexible. Raise tbo rod evenly and without jerk¬ 
ing, with force sufficient to lift the line froni the water; 
throw the tip upward aud backward until it takes a posi¬ 
tion over the shoulder at an angle of 45 degrees and no 
more, keeping the tip a trifle outward, away from the 
body; calculate the length of time required to straighten 
the line out behind to Us full length, and then bring the 
rod forward with vigor, striking down squarely and di¬ 
rectly in front of you, always remembering on no account 
to let the lip drop as low as the surface. It will be per¬ 
ceived that in the upward motion the thumb points out¬ 
ward, and with the downward motion it .turns inward. 
This is the infallible key to the whole situation. 
By practising this combination of movements one will 
learn not only to lay out his cast on the water in good 
form, but by increasing the force to cast great distances. 
At no time should the efforts be jerky. The body should 
be well poised, and the arm move with the evenness and 
method of a pendulum. With a long line a sudden up¬ 
ward jerk is liable to break the rod either at the first or 
second ferule, or to throw the line out of its natural 
parabolic orbit; while a too sudden or premature projection 
of the rod forward will snap off the flies, tangle the line, or 
catch the seat of one’s corduroys with the hook, insufficient 
tithe having been given for the line to straighten itself be¬ 
hind. Inexperienced anglers are annoyed by the snoods 
chafing and breaking off at the heads of the flies; the cause 
is imperfect casting. The fly being heavier than the deli¬ 
cate line, moves faster through the air by the impetus 
given it, and when a quick jerky motion is made in east¬ 
ing, or a too much up-and-down motion is given to the 
rod, the fly lias to drag the line along like a shot taking a 
life-line to a wreck, aud lights on the water with a thud 
that sends it back at right angles with the link or loop. 
The friction is more than the strongest gut can stand. 
In lifting very long lines from the water, it is desirable 
to start them first, and then withdraw them wholly, other¬ 
wise the weight and sag is liable to part the tackle, and 
break or strain the rod; also before malting the forward 
cast, count the time it has taken to withdraw the line from 
the water and bring the rod to its position over the shoul¬ 
der. The flies will then have time to traverse the entire 
arc which a well-made cast requires. 
When about to change position on the stream, reel up 
and take your line out of the water, unless you are wad¬ 
ing, when it may sometimes be preferable to let the line 
drift down ahead of the angler, if the current be swift. 
Wading possesses several advantages over fishing from the 
hank, for it enables the angler to fish every part of the 
stream which the other method does not, and gives him 
more casting room; the fish are not so easily frightened, 
and when hooked are more easily landed. Fish can see in 
clear water with great acuteness, hut the refraction seems 
to impair their vision. Fish have a habit of backing 
slowly down stream as the angler advances, not seeming 
greatly disturbed; but the moment they do take flight 
they scoot up stream like lightning. Streams may be 
fished up or down at option, though down stream is the 
best. The only advantage of fishing up stream is that 
while you are playing your fish, you do not alarm others 
above you, as you are supposed always to lead your captive 
down stream. 
It is useless to WBSte lime in whipping every foot of a 
stream. Trout lie where cool bottom springs bubble, or 
lateral brooks come in, or food gathers, the depth of wa¬ 
ter favors, or shade and protection serve. The strongest 
and biggest fish preempt the choicest places and deepest 
pools, but good fish are often takeu in swift water flowing 
about six inches deep over pebbly bottoms where the con¬ 
ferva attaches itself to stones and sways in the current, af¬ 
fording both food and lurking places. In large rivers it is 
useless to fish except at rapids, or where a lateral stream 
flows in. Casts may be taken when wading, or from the 
bank, according to depth of water and other circumstan¬ 
ces. Where the river wakes short turns there is a deep 
hole on one side and a cotresponding sand-bar or fiat on 
the other. Trout are likely to he found in till these deep 
holes, because the current carries the food there; and for 
the same reason they are also to be found under the bank 
opposite to the wind. Where a river is divided by an 
island or patch of weeds, a cast will'be . rewarded. In 
spring the fish are much scattered, and can he taken al¬ 
most anywhere, as they are foraging for food, the insects 
not yet having been hatched out. Later in the season the 
trouts’ food is swept in plenty and variety to their dining¬ 
rooms in the holes under the hank. And in autumn nature 
teaches them to resort to the springheads and smaller 
tributaries for the purpose of spawning. Trout feed chief¬ 
ly. at night, and hence are more readily taken on dark and 
cloudy days, and between sunset and dark. 
In using the fly the object is to imitate the movements 
of the natural insect as nearly as possible, and the angler 
often exercises great ingenuity in so doing. To drop the 
line naturally on the water, and then to keep it endued 
with life, is the strategem. From the moment the fly 
touches the water the angler should keep his eye on it, 
Trout often feed a little under the surface; they do Dot al¬ 
ways break when they rise, hut quietly suck in the fly. 
The angler can frequently delect a quick movement of a 
dark object beneath the surface, or a sudden flash of light, 
Which he knows to be a fish making for the hook, and he 
instinctively raises the tip of his rod and hooks it. A nov¬ 
ice might have let a dozen of these oppofiunities pass. 
Often the whereabouts of a trout is betrayed by a break or 
a leap from the surface, and the wide-awake angler will 
make it his business to toss his fly over the spot sooner or 
later. Sometimes the trout rush at the lure like a flash, 
leaping clear over it in their eagerness. They are difficult 
to hook then. A fish will hook himself only in cases where 
the fly first touches the water at the end of a straight line, 
or when the line is being withdrawn smartly for a new 
cast. In all other cases the skill of the angler must bo em¬ 
ployed. If ibis “strike" be made with vigor or desper¬ 
ately, either the trout will he jerked high in the air, the" 
tackle will be broken, the hook will tear out, or, what is 
more probable, the hook will miss altogether. Then the 
awkward effort will scare the fish away, and the angler 
must proceed to another place. How to hook a fish can¬ 
not bo told; hut if the angler will school himself never to 
raise the arm, but simply to use the wrist, lifting the thumb 
slightly when a fish rises, his lesson will be nearly learned. 
He must remember that his wrist is the fulcrum of a long 
lever, and that a slight movement there will produce an 
astouudiug demonstration at the other end. It is appar¬ 
ent that the offer of an undesirable fish can often be de¬ 
clined. If fish in a pool he frightened, give the pool a half 
hour’s rest. 
Having hooked the fish the next thing is to handle him. 
If well hooked, he will go to the bottom, and if slightly 
hooked he will flounder about on the surface. Upon this 
showing the angler determines his mode of proceedure. 
Iu any case put him into the basket as soon as possible. 
Do not work him against the current more than can be 
helped. If you see the strength of your rod tested too 
much, give him line; when he yields, reel up. The point is 
always to keep him well in hand, as you Would a horse— 
always to feel him. "When necessary to lead him out of 
weeds or dangerous places, advance the but of the rod. 
It will stand an enormous strain. Keep the line always 
under your thumb, with the thumb on the rod. If the 
fish leaps, lower the tip of the rod so as to give the Jlue 
slack, otherwise he will tear the hook loose. Having at 
last takeu the mettle from him, reel in short, throw the 
rod back over your shoulder, and slip the landing net un¬ 
der him. If you have no net, lead him to the hank 
and draw him out, if he be a large one. Small ones can 
be lifted by the line. 
International Live Stock Exhibition.— The Bureau 
of Agriculture, Centennial Commission, has a new circular 
in press, announcing important changes, and such as com¬ 
mend theraseives strongly to the breeders of the country 
as eminently practical. The syBtom of awards will be the 
same as that adopted for the government of all the inter¬ 
national judges. Every animal possessing points of ex¬ 
cellence will be reported upon moro or less fully, accord¬ 
ing to ils inherent and comparative merit. Exhibitors 
whose stockreceives the cominetulatiou of the judges will 
be presented with a special report and diploma, attested by 
the signatures of the judges, specifying the typical fea¬ 
tures of each animal, and supplemental to these will be 
presented the bronze medal of the Commission. The 
judges in each group will also make a general report upon 
the characteristics of each breed, special reference being 
made to animals exhibited of superlative merit. Thee 
