UP OR DOWN STREAM.
So much for the tackle to be used in fly-fishing, and, being thus
provided, in what way should the tyro go to work? The first point to be
considered is, Should he fish up stream or down? Old Father Izaak says,
"fish down stream," but he was not much of a fly-fisher, and I cannot
help thinking that if he had lived in the present day he would have seen
fit to alter his opinion in this respect. Fish, like human beings, have
advanced in education since that time, and, if you want to catch a
trout, get behind him. I caught a large trout about eight years ago in
clear smooth water, where I did not much expect to catch one, and on
examining him I found that he had only one eye, and I had got on the
blind side and pitched over him. The advantages of fishing up stream
appear to me so great that I can hardly believe any good fly-fisher can
hold a contrary opinion; but, lest I should seem prejudiced, I will give
some reasons for my faith. The trout always lies with its head up
stream, waiting for the food to come down, and if you approach it from
the rear you are not so likely to be seen as when approaching it face to
face. Again, the natural fly floats down stream, and by throwing up and
letting the artificial float down you imitate the motion of the natural
fly, taking care to raise the point of the rod as the fly approaches
you, so as not to have any slack line out, for if you have, you cannot
strike properly. Another reason is, that if while fishing _up_ a trout
rises, when you strike you will in all probability hook it in the side
of the mouth as it turns; but when fishing _down_, if you strike, the
motion tends to draw the fly out of the fish's mouth, and he does not
lose much time in getting rid of it if found not to his taste, and then
"The trout within yon wimplin burn
Glides swift, a silver dart,
And, safe beneath the shady thorn,
Defies the angler's art."
Another important matter to consider is the direction of the wind.
Always, if you can, fish with the wind behind you, or, at all events, so
that you can throw across it; but, if you must make a choice of evils,
choose the lesser, and fish _up_ stream and _against_ the wind, rather
than _down_ stream and _with_ the wind. In considering which side of the
river to fish, do not, if you can help it, fish from that side whence
the sun would cast your shadow on the water, as nothing is more alarming
to trout. It is impossible, in a short treatise like the present, to
give such instruction in throwing the fly as will make the tyro an
adept. It is desirable to practise throwing with both the right and left
sweep, as by changing from one to the other you avoid getting into the
bad habit of twisting the rod, which would assuredly warp and spoil it;
and by practising short throws with the left hand you will be able to
give the right arm a few minutes' rest occasionally, a great relief in
a long day's fishing.
My advice is, to commence with a short line, and when you find that you
can deliver the line so as to be prepared to hook a fish as soon as the
fly touches the water, gradually increase the length, taking care never
to attempt to throw more than you can send out clean and straight,
without disturbing the water. But more can be learnt in this respect by
an hour's practice with an old hand, than by any amount of theory. The
great points are to keep well out of sight, and to imitate the descent
of the natural fly on the water, which in the case of the smaller flies
is as soft and gentle as a piece of thistle-down; but with the larger
ones, such as the drakes and moths, whose bodies are heavy in proportion
to the size of their wings, compared with other flies, let them fall
with a slight spat on the water, causing a ring to take place on the
surface, and letting the fish know it is there.