THROWING THE FLY. 89 



on which he stands, A, the opposite bank, D, 

 the starting post of the top, or point of the rod, 

 when beginning to raise the fly from the water, 

 and H, the finishing or winning post, where it is 

 brought at rest when the throw is complete. 

 Place yourself, c, immediately facing the spot 

 you wish the fly to fall on, remembering this 

 throughout my instructions. Imprimis, observe 

 that it is one of the secrets of good throwing 

 to have a fixed centre on which the rod shall 

 revolve. If you are about to throw with a very 

 light single-handed trout-rod, all the motion 

 should proceed from the bend of your wrist ONLY, 

 which is to be the pivot on which the rod turns, 

 as though the rest of your arm were perfectly 

 fixed. Or if you are fishing with a heavier single- 

 handed one, you may move the fore-arm, or joint 

 from the hand to the elbow, and aid the motion 

 by the bend of your wrist, while the elbow must 

 be the pivot ; the upper part of your arm, from 

 the elbow to the shoulder, being fixed. If, again, 

 you are using a double-handed rod, the lower 

 end of the but, below the winch, is held facing 

 the right shoulder, by the one (generally the left) 

 hand, which is to be kept stationary, and act as 

 the pivot; while all the motion of the rod is 

 communicated by the other, placed immediately 

 above the winch, so as to give a firm command, 

 and yet not take away at all from the elasticity of 



