94 LONDON ANGLER'S BOOK, 



end of the but as possible, and if it could be at the 

 end of the spear, so much the better, your hand-hold 

 being the fulcrum, or point of balance. If you had 

 a long stick, or any other lengthened substance, to 

 carry a distance, you would imperceptibly find the 

 centre, for the purpose of carrying it easier; until 

 this is done, you cannot carry it comfortably, neither 

 can a fly rod and line be used so dexterously as when 

 the weight of the line and the length of the rod is 

 balanced as much as possible ; this can only be ac- 

 complished, by placing the winch as near the extremity 

 of the but as you can. 



When all is prepared, your gut length looped on 

 your line, and your hackle trimmed, take it between 

 the finger and thumb of your left hand; hold your rod 

 easily, but firmly, and make a sweep a little over your 

 left shoulder, to get your line well back ; this is the 

 principal thing to be acquired ; unless you can get 

 the line well and clean behind you, you never will 

 make a good throw. If you return your fly too soon, 

 you will snap it off, and if too late, it will fall on 

 the ground, or fasten on some shrub, or butter-cup, 

 and endanger the breaking of your rod ; at least, it 

 will give you a tramp in the grass to disengage it, 

 This cannot be avoided always by the most expe- 

 rienced Angler, but the novice will be often per- 

 plexed with these mishaps: there is a peculiar feeling 

 which the fisher must learn to judge, when the fly is 

 sufficiently back to be returned ; this should not be 

 done with a jerk, but brought gradually forward; 



