210 ROD AND RIVER 



the trying, and I have so repeatedly found it 

 answer that I venture to give the reader the 

 benefit of my experience. 



One word more before I change the subject. I 

 have made mention of the utility of keeping a 

 certain, amount of slack line out when casting, not 

 only because a longer line can thus be got out, 

 but also because, at the final forward cast, when 

 the last of the slack is drawn out, the fly in its 

 forward motion, not being as suddenly checked 

 as would be the case if the line were cast straight 

 from the reel without any slack being left, will 

 fall on the water more lightly and naturally. And 

 there is still another advantage to be gained by 

 thus retaining a certain quantity of slack. It is 

 not^ possible to always accurately gauge the dis- 

 tance, still less to make absolutely sure of the fly 

 being placed on the exact spot required, for, just 

 as it is over the fish, a sudden gust of wind may 

 blow the cast away to right or left, as the case 

 may be, and the chances are that a twitch of the 

 rod may tend either to splash the gut on the 

 water, and scare an all too wary fish, or to firmly 

 lodge the casting-line in a neighbouring bush or 

 bough (and it is always in the neighbourhood of 

 boughs and bushes that the largest and most 

 cunning old sinners elect to take up their abode). 

 Now, if, instead of thus twitching the rod and 

 running these great risks, a little slack is retained 



