Casting and Working the Fly 95 



favorable position for the next cast, and the line 

 for that purpose may be lengthened out from the 

 reel so much as is desired. Three or four feet 

 additional on the length of each cast is not too 

 much unless in very heavy or dark water, when 

 this amount of new line can be reduced accord- 

 ing to the fancy of the angler. In fishing from 

 a boat and casting alternately to each side, one 

 should learn to use either hand uppermost on 

 the rod for either cast, as it is tiresome and 

 annoying to change hands every time the fly is 

 thrown. The fly, of course, is thrown by a 

 somewhat different motion when it has to be 

 cast from the left shoulder with the right hand 

 uppermost on the rod, or from the right shoulder 

 with the left hand above ; but a little practice in 

 this enables one to acquire the habit and to add 

 greatly to his ease and comfort in fishing. 



In fishing from a bank or wading, while the 

 above general directions will apply in many cases, 

 there are also many where the cast has to be 

 made in quite a different way in order to cover 

 all the water within reach. Of course, if there 

 is plenty of clear space behind, the ordinary 

 overhand cast will do; but if, as is frequently 

 the case, the angler has a backing up of trees or 



