212 THE SALMON REEL 



THE POSITION OF THE SALMON REEL 



In salmon fly casting, if the fisherman uses most 

 commonly the right-hand cast that is, the cast in 

 which the right hand is uppermost the rod is brought 

 back over the right shoulder, the handle of his reel 

 should be facing the left hand, for he can then most 

 readily use it without shifting his right or upper 

 hand. The butt of the rod rests either in the belt 

 socket or against the body, while the left hand easily 

 controls the line and reel. If the left-hand cast is 

 generally used, the handle of the reel should face 

 toward the right. If both right and left hand casts 

 are equally employed in casting, then the position of 

 the handle of the reel may be left to individual choice. 



CASTING 



By the term " cast " I include all the movements 

 made by the single or double handed rod in lifting the 

 fly from one place and casting it to the same or any 

 other desired position on the water. Every variety 

 of cast may, for convenience, be grouped under two 

 heads. The first may be called the straight method, 

 and the second the straight and curved method. 



In the former the rod and line travel in the same 

 plane, with a distinct forward and backward movement. 

 In the latter the rod and line combine the forward 

 and backward actions in one continuous movement, 



