TREATISE ON FLY-FISHING, V] 



down the stream. The casting the fly well and 

 lightly is a knack which can only be acquired by 

 experience. The spring of the rod should do the 

 chief work, and not the labour of your arms. 

 To effect this, you should lay the stress as near 

 the hand as possible, and make the wood 

 undulate from that point, which is done by 

 keeping the elbow in advance, and doing 

 something with the wrist which is not very easy 

 to explain. Thus, the exertion should be chiefly 

 from the elbow and wrist, and not from the 

 shoulders. 



A little practice will enable you to determine 

 the length of line required to reach a given spot : 

 until this knowledge is acquired, rather throw too 

 short than too long a line. In the latter case, it 

 will bag in the water and scare the fish, or if per 

 chance one rises, it will most probably escape, 

 before you have power to strike. 



The stream fly should fall lightly on the desired 

 spot, and the line, being just of sufficient length 



