66 ANGLING IN SALT WATER. 



back over the right shoulder; but immediately the rod has 

 reached a little beyond the perpendicular, check it suddenly, 

 and the line flies out straight behind; then pause a second 

 with the rod in this position (the longer the line, the longer 

 should be the pause), and vigorously swish the point of the 

 rod in the direction you wish to throw the fly. When, how- 

 ever, the rod has reached an angle of about 45°, check it, and, 

 as the line flew out behind you, now it will shoot out in front 

 of you, and fall lightly on the surface of the lawn, or water, 

 as the case may be. The mistake beginners make is to wave 

 the rod too violently, and, instead of letting the rod cast the 

 line, they try to do it by violent movement with their arms. 

 You do not want to whip the water, but merely to propel the 

 fly through the air at an imaginary point a foot or so above 

 that spot on the water where the fly is to fall. There is a 

 cast used on the Spey in which the line is not allowed to 

 fly out behind the angler, but is switched round almost in a 

 circle. It is difficult, and requires much practice. The bass- 

 angler should learn it, if he can find an instructor, for it is a 

 useful cast when fishing from the shore, with high cliffs rising 

 immediately in the rear. To do the Spey or switch cast properly, 

 a strong stream or tide is necessary, to extend the line ; but I 

 have seen it done fairly well on still water. "When the line is 

 extended in front of the angler, it should be lifted a little 

 ofE the water, the bow of the line allowed to touch the water 

 near the angler's feet, and then switched overhand forward. 

 I have described this and other casts at considerable length 

 in "Angling for Game Fish." 



Supposing, now, that the angler has mastered the art of 

 casting a fly, he should next study the best means of inducing 

 the fish to take it. If the fly is merely a white feather, it 

 should be drawn rapidly along the surface ; but if an elaborate 

 salmon fly, it should be worked in jerks, which has the effect 

 of alternately opening and closing the feathers and hackles, 

 and giving the fly the appearance of life. It is usual to cast 

 rather to the left, and then draw the fly to the right. In 

 time the angler may learn to cast from the left shoulder, and 

 fish, when desirable, from right to left. Immediately a rise, or 



