186 FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



rod back more than to a slight angle from the perpendic- 

 ular, and making the stroke forward;, your line goes 

 straight out and the flies go to the point you desire. 



Great care should be taken when you have thrown 

 the line behind you, that the line is given time to 

 straighten before making the stroke forward. I have 

 thrown seventy feet of line against a strong wind, first, 

 by giving my rod a quick, strong back stroke, carrying 

 my rod but slightly back of the perpendicular, and 

 giving my line time to straighten behind me, then 

 making the same stroke forward that I did to get it 

 back of me. 



I nearly forgot to mention that it is more important 

 to have your line fit your rod than it is to have your 

 coat fit your back. 



You may think it strange that I should tell you three 

 or four times over in the same article, that in order to 

 do good fly-casting you must throw your rod back only 

 just so far, and then wait for your line to straighten 

 behind you ; and when your line is straight, to make a 

 quick stroke forward, without carrying your rod for- 

 ward, even a little, before delivering yonr line, but 

 these movements are the essential principles in fly- 

 casting. By observing them one may hope to be- 

 come a skilful fly-caster. 



