ON ANGLING. 133 



with line and cast to match. Those big engines are, as a rule, 

 for the big waters only. But I do not wish to be too dog- 

 matic, and have been careful to write that it is on " most," 

 and not " all," small rivers that a big rod is not " in the 

 picture," because the rule that big fish do not come into the 

 small rivers is not without its exceptions, and also because 

 there are some of these small rivers, such as the Awe and the 

 Garry, which are so tumultuous, in which the fish are so 

 vigorous and fight so hard in the strong water, and where it 

 is so difficult to follow the fish, that a strong rod and tackle 

 are very useful and not at all out of place, although the water 

 is relatively small. 



The most obvious difference between the casting for 

 trout and salmon is that the former is a one-handed and the 

 latter a two-handed business. Both have this in common, 

 that the essential problem is one of timing, of allowing the 

 right time, not too much and not too little, for the going 

 out of the line behind so that the forward urge of the rod shall 

 have the weight of the line to make full play with. Again, it 

 is a question of having no slack, but all " live " line. 



You will hold the rod, I presume, for right-handed 

 throwing, over the right shoulder, well down towards the 

 extremity of the butt with the left hand and with right 

 hand well up. My own tendency is to hold the rod higher 

 with the right hand than most anglers do. It appears to me 

 that I have more power by so holding it ; but you will soon 

 learn for yourself the height of grip with the upper hand 

 which seems to give you best ease of wielding the rod and 

 imparting live movement to the line. It is all a matter of 

 practice, and all so very much easier than the like problem 

 with the trout fly that you will be delighted by your quick 

 mastery of it. 



There is no question, with the salmon fly, of back-hand 

 casting ; but it is quite essential that you learn to cast over 

 the left shoulder, and with the left hand uppermost. This 

 is exactly the action, reversed, of the right-handed throw over 

 the right shoulder. There is no need that I should give 

 you any detailed hints about it. Again, it is a simple 

 achievement, dependent for success on the sense of timing. 

 You will very soon get the knack of it ; and you will get it 



