PRACTISING OVER WATER 27 



always to point his right foot towards the object at 

 which he aims, and always to keep his eye directed 

 towards the spot at which he wishes his fly to alight. 



A plate should now be placed on the lawn, and after 

 fixing an old May-fly on his line, and snapping off the 

 point of the hook, he should endeavour from different 

 distances to place this fly on or near the plate. 



When he has acquired accuracy in this important 

 matter, he can commence his casting on any available 

 and adjacent water. A fairly stout and well-soaked 

 cast of gut, about 4 feet in length, and an artificial 

 fly of fairly large pattern should be attached to the end 

 of his tapered line, the point of the hook being again 

 broken off. For his own convenience that part of the 

 line he is likely to use, as also the fly, should be greased 

 either with deer or mutton fat. 



He should anchor a wooden hoop about 15 yards 

 away, and continue his practice, trying to cast the fly 

 within the circle of the hoop, and endeavouring to do 

 it in a light and delicate manner. When casting on 

 water the necessity of raising the rod before making 

 the back cast will be appreciated. The rod should be 

 raised or the line drawn in until that part of it in the 

 water is well on the surface, and can be easily picked up. 

 The backward switch should then be given. The more 

 suited to one another are the rod and line, the better 

 the result ; the weight of the rod and line should 

 always be relative to each other a light rod and a light 

 line, a heavier rod and a heavier line, and so on. A 

 tapered line is perhaps the best to use ; it not only 



