250 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



We will now suppose the tyro ready equipped and eager for the fray. 

 By this, of course, I mean he has his landing net, creel at back, tackle 

 book, and rod, &c. He has attached the gut link, and selects a palmer 

 for the end of it. This is called the stretcher, and the other flies are 

 droppers, and the gut should be quite a yard from the stretcher. 

 Usually two droppers and a stretcher are quite sufficient ; indeed I 

 know some anglers who never use more than one fly, and this I must 

 confess to preferring myself. However, when fish are small and biting 

 freely, the occasional fun of two on at once renders the larger number 

 admissible. 



The supposititious tyro, having now everything in readiness, proceeds 

 to make his first cast. In nine cases out of ten he "pops" off the 

 stretcher in his first essay. But this matters little, seeing the quantity of 

 flies he has still remaining, i.e., if he has taken in the stock above named. 

 However, to avoid cracking off the tail-fly, it is advisable that he affix 

 to an old hook a piece of worsted, and practise at a mark or piece of 

 paper on the lawn or in a field, before essaying to throw upon the water. 

 A degree of proficiency may thus be obtained which is likely to be con- 

 siderably more genuine than if he at once commenced flogging the water 

 on fish intent. A short line should be tossed, and gradually the length 

 might be extended till a respectable and accurately aimed cast is the 

 result. 



What say the received authorities about this operation of casting ? 

 Stewart (the best fly fisher of modern times, excepting Eonald) says : 

 " When the line is thoroughly soaked, take the rod in your right hand, 

 raise it with sufficient force to make the line go to its full length behind, 

 and then, hanging for a moment till it has done so, with a circular motion 

 of the wrist and arm urge the rod forward, rapidly at first, but gradually 

 lessening the speed, so that when it stops no recoil of the point will take 

 place. The whole motion of the rod in casting should be in the shape of 

 a horse-shoe, and care must be taken not to urge the flies forward till 

 they have gone the full length behind, or you will be apt to crack them 

 off." 



Mr. Francis echoes this advice, and I need not repeat myself by 

 quoting him. Pennell in effect does the same, and adds a piece of advice 

 which I will not attempt to paraphrase in order that it may seem 

 original. He says : " In completing this (the cast), the point of the rod 

 must not be allowed to approach too near the water, but should be kept 

 well up and even ; at the moment the line is falling a little upward 

 springy movement of the point should be given. This has the effect of 

 making the flies light softly and before the line two most important 

 points." 



