TROUT PLY-FISHING. 329 



it forward, and short of the place aimed at. The same bad 

 effect is produced by using too much force. The beginner 

 should bear in mind that it is not strength, but an easy- 

 sleight, and the spring of the rod, that effects the long and 

 light cast. The arm should be extended slightly, and the 

 motion imparted to the rod by the forearm working as on a 

 pivot at the elbow, and the hand turning as on another pivot 

 at the wrist. The motion of the hand and wrist only is 

 required in a short, straight cast. 



The angler should not cast at random over the water, but 

 each portion of it should be carefully fished, the nearest first. 

 He should always aim at some particular place ; he will soon 

 learn to measure the distance with his eye, and exert the 

 exact amount of force to propel his flies to the desired spot. 

 In drawing them over the water, the primary object is to 

 have the drop-fly to skim or dap along on the surface ; the 

 stretcher which follows in its wake may be allowed to take 

 care of itself, for, as a general thing, it matters little whether 

 it is on or beaeath the surface. 



When the flies first fall on the water, they should be al- 

 lowed to rest a moment, and the slight motion imparted by 

 tightening the line, or in recovering the full grasp of the 

 rod on the instant, should be avoided. If in the current, they 

 should be left for some moments to its will, then guided gently 

 and sometimes with a tremulous motion across or diagonally 

 up against it. 



After the learner (and he will always , be learning) has 

 acquired the first principles of the art, necessity, ingenuity, 

 and observation will teach him how to cast in difficult places. 

 Our streams and lakes are generally fished, the first by 

 wading, the latter fr om a boat, and seldom from a high bank. 

 It is therefore less necessary to cast a long line than many 

 suppose, or English writers describe it to be. But our 



