THJ2 SALMON. 195 



The rod is then brought round, by, over, and beyond the point of the 

 left shoulder. This will carry the line to its full extent upwards and over 

 the bed of the river. When so extended, the point of the rod must be 

 brought back a little in the direction the cast is to be made. Making use, 

 then, of the left arm chiefly, the line is propelled forward by a motion given 

 the rod, as though there were something in the air you wished to strike. 

 You must not now bend forward with the rod, or its forward motion will be 

 checked at a short distance if you do, but keep your position, letting the 

 natural pliancy of the upper joints of the rod do their work, and the fly 

 will then fall as it ought, first on the water, followed by the gut and the 

 rest of the line. The left shoulder cast is made chiefly when the obstruc- 

 tions I referred to exist. I can see no reason why the right shoulder cast 

 should not be also used if the bank be shelving and the posterior 

 surroundings clear. 



The right shoulder cast is made oppositely, of course. The positions 

 of the fisher as regards his feet and hands are reversed, and a bold semi- 

 circular sweep of the line as before, bringing chiefly into play the muscles 

 of the forearm, is made. No unnecessary strength should be employed. 

 The body need not be bent, except to relax the rigidity of the muscles 

 set for the throw. The fly then falls lightly and without hurry upon 

 the stream, and is followed by the line quite as lightly. These straight 

 shoulder casts are invariably the best, as they make the least noise and 

 disturbance of the water, and they are certainly the easiest for the tyro 

 to learn. 



To vary the instructions necessary thus given for throwing with the 

 salmon rod, I will quote Mr. Stoddart, himself one of the most expert 

 of fly-fishers that ever handled rod. This gentleman says : " In fly- 

 fishing for salmon the casting of the line is generally managed, first of 

 all, by raising the rod back over the left shoulder. This part of the 

 operation requires to be done slowly and deliberately, with a slight 

 increase of speed or force on the part of the performer as he proceeds. 

 He will then, if managing properly, raise the slipping or employed portion 

 of the line above and behind him, so that by further elevating the rod 

 and bringing it round over his head, both hands being employed in 

 the exercise, he shall cause the tackle in question to describe, as it 

 were, a sort of semi-circle in the air. He must then, at the moment the 

 sweep in question is completed and the rod has attained its highest 

 elevation, direct his fly forward by a rapid impulse towards the spot 

 where he wishes it to alight ; and this should be done without any 

 accompanying jerk or violent movement, but solely by a firm continued 

 exertion of- strength, as in the ' putting ' or launching of a large stone 

 or cannon ball. This is tlie left shoulder method of throwing the salmon 



o 2 



