LESSONS IN CASTING 69 



it simply joins the ranks of the many inanimate 

 things floating down the stream, and has no 

 attraction for fish. Crossing the stream gives 

 it life, but when it comes into the straight, 

 movement must be given by the rod. 



The most useful method we have found, is 

 to draw the rod point about a foot up stream 

 and then to throw it forward describing a sort 

 of loop, repeating the operation when the line 

 is seen to tighten. As the rate of the current 

 changes, so must the casts, every one being 

 studied. In a slow moving stream every part 

 of the cast should be fished with this sink and 

 draw motion. Let the fly work deep, but always 

 feel that it is working. Too many anglers are 

 content to throw their fly on the water, and flop- 

 flop their rod, under the impression that they 

 are fishing it ; more often they have no idea where 

 the fly is, and the only part of the cast it really 

 fishes is the last yard or two as the line straightens 

 out in the stream. 



There is all the difference between a fly crossing 

 at the proper angle on a tight line, and one float- 

 ing down stream on a slack line. From the 

 moment the fly is cast, the line must be taut, 

 and touch with the fly maintained until the cast 

 is fished out. 



Many a blank day is simply the result of want 

 of attention to the fly. It is all very well to be 



