96 



THROWING THE FLY. 



cast it forward, it is equally evident that as the 

 spring could not be re-applied until the rod were 

 lower down in the arc B o, so that the right 

 angle to the rod would fall within A c, the fly 

 also would fall there ; that is to say, the reel line 

 would come down first, and its end and the fly 

 would gather " all of a heap" upon it. In like 

 manner, if the rod were not gradually brought 

 forward after the spring at i, the fly would 

 rebound over the water and could not fall lightly ; 

 but of this I shall say a word by and bye. 



Thirdly, it would be next to impossible to con- 

 troul the fly, after the spring is given, towards the 

 same direction ; for the only consequence of such 

 a power, could it exist, would be the rebounding 

 of the fly. But it is as common a fault as I know 

 of, after giving the spring to the fly towards the 

 water, to counteract the spring by the subse- 

 quent swing of the rod. A beginner in fly-fishing, 

 if he is fortunate enough to hit upon the proper 

 spring, in ninety-nine times out of a hundred, 

 mars it by the force by which he subsequently 

 throws his rod forward, almost frightening the fish 

 to death under it by the " swish" of his top into 

 the water ! and there are many who have fished for 

 years, much addicted to this fault ; and who, as I 

 shall show you presently, never throw a line pro- 

 perly extended. You will hear their rods cutting 

 the air with a sharp noise, "with a swish" and 



