TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



about 20 degrees above horizontal, thus bringing the butt 

 of the rod about 20 degrees below horizontal. Such a bal- 

 ance is obtained by having a reel of the proper weight. 



In order to cast efficiently and well it is absolutely 

 necessary on the "forward" cast that the tip of the rod — 

 irrespective of the height of the caster's hand from the 

 water — shall not go below a point that is 15 degrees above 

 a horizontal line established by the height of the casting 

 hand. 



The reason for this is, that first, the fly cannot be prop- 

 erly landed upon the water, and, second, there will be too 

 much slack in the line which will handicap the angler in 

 striking a fish. 



The maximum arc of a circle the tip of a fly-rod should 

 describe when casting is 90 degrees and this arc begins 

 15 degrees above a horizontal line and ends 15 degrees 

 beyond a vertical line having the casting hand as a base. 



These 90 degrees represent the maximum distance the 

 tip of the rod should travel in making a good cast, and this 

 includes the bend of the rod which always takes place in 

 the act of casting. 



The arc described by the ferrule end of the butt joint 

 when making a cast, however, is only about 80 degrees, the 

 difference between the arc of the tip and the arc of the butt 

 joint, which is 10 degrees, represents the distance covered 

 by the tip due to the bend of the rod. 



In other words, let it be assumed that the casting hand, 

 whether the angler is in a boat or working a stream on 

 foot, is four feet above the surface of the water. Let the 



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