16 STRIKE AND CAST 



By the terms " strike " and " cast " I mean the 

 switching impulse given to the rod by the arm, either 

 backward or forward respectively, and not any lower- 

 ing, side, or other movements of the arm or rod, unless 

 made at the same time as the strike or cast. 



The forward cast should be made at the expiration 

 of the necessary pause. The force required is slightly 

 less than that used in the back stroke, and should 

 gradually increase in strength until the rod is stopped 

 with a jerk at an angle of from 40 to 20 degrees above 

 the object aimed at (see Plate VI.). This angle will, 

 however, depend on the resistance or otherwise of 

 the wind. In order to get this action correctly, it 

 is necessary to imagine that you are again throwing 

 forward a small portion of clay from the top of your 

 rod, and that it will be this jerk which causes it to leave 

 the rod and fly forward. 



The line, actuated by the forward switch, will be 

 seen to travel forward as the rod is checked at this 

 angle, and the downward droop of the under side of 

 the belly of the advancing line should be followed by 

 a quiet lowering of the rod, until the line touches the 

 grass or water (see Plate VII.). 



Some hours' practice should now be made, remem- 

 bering the above instructions and endeavouring to 

 direct the end of the line to some definite mark on 

 the grass, on which the eye must be fixed. The friend 

 should be asked to watch the rod, and to see that it 

 does not incline backward beyond the angle shown in 

 Plate III. The force applied to each cast must be 



