Next to floating the fly naturally the greatest problem lies in hooking the fish. You do not keep a taut line in dry fly fishing to avoid the drag and when a fish does rise he has time to taste the fly, learn its true
nature and let go of it if the angler is not on the alert at all times. For this reason the dry fly fisher should follow the keep-your-eye-on-the-ball rule of the golfer and watch for the flash of a rising fish. If a fish rises and is not hooked let the fly float down a ways before lifting it for another series of false casts — three are enough in most instances — and then try him again. If he refuses to rise offer him another fly; it is not unusual to offer one fish three or four patterns of flies before you get one that strikes his fancy. Generally the dry fly man watches carefully to see what insects are hatching and which ones the trout are feeding on; then he puts one on that imitates it.
