26 
A HANDY GUIDE TO 
straight line with him, so that the fly shall sail over 
his nose down-stream. 
In drying your fly, look out for trees, or bushes, or 
long grass behind you, or for squalls ! for otherwise 
there will most likely be a smash — if not of your 
rod, at least of your amiable temper. 
To keep your line from falling too low behind you, 
and touching the grass or hooking into a button-top 
weed (made evidently exactly to fit a hook and hold 
it very fast), remember the hint of your early lesson 
about not sending your rod much further back than 
your shoulder. Be prepared for the contingency of 
a hitch behind : always expect it (and you will rarely 
at first be disappointed !) : so as to be able to ease 
your cast at once. 
If you are not, be prepared for another thing — to 
go home with a broken rod, and with a temper that 
will not add to domestic happiness. 
