60 SALMON FISHING 



making the back cast, the rod should not be 

 thrown farther back than shown in Plate 7, and 

 that time and pace are the important factors. 



Having, with a short line, mastered this, he 

 may extend the cast a yard at a time, until he 

 reaches about 25 yards, when he may farther 

 extend it by "shooting" a yard or two. This 

 "shooting" eases the rod, enables a longer cast 

 to be made, and assures the fly falling lightly 

 on the water. Two yards will be sufficient loose 

 line to begin with. This must be held under 

 the forefinger of the right hand, and when the 

 down stroke has been made and the line travel- 

 ling, it should be released. Before making the 

 next cast, this slack line should be gathered 

 and held as before. In making the forward 

 stroke it is important that the line be properly 

 extended behind, as the pull back on the rod 

 from the weight of it, does a part of the work, 

 and all the caster requires to do, is to smartly 

 drive the line forward at the proper time, aiming 

 at a point 2 yards above where it is desired the 

 fly should fall, releasing the slack just at the 

 end of the cast, really when the fly is lighting. 

 Of course much depends on the wind, which if 

 against the caster, will necessitate more force 

 being put into the stroke. 



This "overhead" cast is the simplest of all, 

 and the most practised. As the young salmon 



