OVERHEAD AND STEEPLE CASTING 203 



simple, unaffected ease of his attitude when 

 casting being evidence that the rod is being 

 fully and properly used. 



It is necessary for everyone who desires to 

 become a fisherman to learn to cast in each one 

 of the four ways which I have mentioned. At 

 one time, the banks being free from obstruc- 

 tion, such as the boughs of trees, etc., it may 

 be not only possible, but advisable, to cast over- 

 head, especially when a long distance has to be 

 covered, and the line has to be ' steepled ' out, as 

 it is termed. This * steeple casting ' is effected 

 by retaining a sufficient quantity of slack line run 

 off the reel at one's feet, and this, as the rod is 

 waved to and fro in the process of drying the fly, 

 or getting out the required length of line, is 

 allowed to follow out through the third and fourth 

 fingers of the right hand, the left hand feeding 

 them with the line until nearly all the slack is 

 expended, when the final forward cast draws out 

 the remainder. A long line being out, when it is 

 desired to cast afresh, it must not be lifted bodily 

 off the water, for if such is attempted, and any 

 portion of it is in slack water, a broken rod will 

 most certainly be the result. The operation 

 should rather be reversed by the left hand 

 drawing the line back through the fingers of 

 the right hand until a convenient length has 

 been left, which can be lifted quietly and cleanly 



