ROD, REEL, AND LINE 57 



help the right in holding the rod ; but that is all 

 that the left hand does, or should do. It is through 

 the right hand that the propelling force goes, or 

 should go. The other is, or should be, merely a 

 rest for the rod. 



How, then, should the right hand act ? Think 

 of golf again, and the answer will suggest itself. 

 However truly hit the ball might be, it would not 

 go far if it were driven by a club held loosely by 

 both hands. It would go a few yards only. The 

 full energy of the muscles can reach the ball only if 

 the muscles and the ball are in close contact. If the 

 club were held loosely at the moment of impact, 

 there would, however swiftly the weapon might be 

 travelling, be a breach of continuity. The energy 

 received by the ball would be little more than the 

 inertia of the head of the club. The energy of the 

 muscles would be lost in the breach. 



A miscarriage exactly similar is possible in fishing. 

 Unless the right hand is held in the right way the 

 best of rods will be a failure. The way is variable, 

 but the principle is plain. If you wish to cast only 

 twelve or fifteen yards, little force is needed, and 

 you must not grip tightly : by a tight grip you 

 would, if the length of line allowed, overshoot the 

 mark. If you wish to cast thirty yards you must 

 grip tightly. Only so can the energy of the arm be 

 communicated to the rod. In that case, indeed, rod 

 and arm are as one. 



There, I think, we have the whole truth about 

 that puzzling subject, "throwing a fly." Many 



