90 THROWING THE FLY. 



the rod. Now, the motion of the top, or point 

 of your rod is this : Having your right arm half- 

 extended, and your hand elevated to about the 

 level of your shoulder, hold the rod before your 

 right-side, upright, as you behold it, but having 

 the point d, depressed over the bank b, at about 

 the angle w c d, fig. 15. Then by a gentle 

 sweep before you, from your right over to your 

 left side, and thence through the points l and 

 M, fig. 14 (m being at the angle w c m. fig. 15.) 

 behind you, giving to it a light spring — (perhaps 

 "a whisk," or "jerk," would express it better), 

 from the wrist, backwards, when it arrives at 

 L, fig. 14, and decreasing the force of the sweep 

 as it reaches m, and increasing it again till it 

 arrives at about e (the angle w c e., fig. 15), 

 then by a similar spring at l, arising likewise 

 wholly from the wrist, throw the point of the rod 

 straight before you, towards the spot where you 

 wish your fly to fall, but decreasing the force 

 after the spring is made, till it reaches, and 

 becomes at rest at h, fig 14, or makes the angle 

 w c H, fig. 15, or even becomes parallel to the 

 water, in case a greater elevation seems likely to 

 check the fly. This, then, is the circuit the 

 point of the rod takes. You will understand me 

 to intend, while using a double-handed rod, to 

 give the springs with the whole fore-arm of the 

 upper hand. 



