230 THE SPEY THROW 



method as it is effective in its results. To make this 

 cast in the best orthodox style, one should have the 

 advantage of at least three factors, which are natural 

 to, or artificially used on, the Spey. These are a rapid 

 river ; a long, heavy, spliced rod, having a very pro- 

 nounced bend backward of the top joint ; and a very 

 heavy line ; and so long as these three factors exist, 

 the Spey throw simply requires the knack of making a 

 cast which is in itself quite as simple as the overhead 

 one. Its greatest admirers cannot claim that it has 

 the merit of placing a light line on the water, and if 

 the disturbance of the surface of the water by the line 

 be considered a fault, the Spey cast certainly sins in that 

 respect more than any other form of throwing a fly. 



If the water is smooth, and if the salmon are shy 

 and alert, warned by previous experiences on the run 

 up, or have been some time in the river, then I would 

 certainly prefer that some other method of casting 

 should precede me in the pools I intended fishing, and 

 whenever I can use the overhead salmon cast, I cer- 

 tainly prefer it to all other methods. 



Although its most finished exponents are unanimous 

 in declaring that it is extremely simple to make this 

 cast, yet it is by no means an easy cast to describe, 

 and this is borne out by the difficulty which seems to 

 have been experienced by writers when endeavouring 

 to describe the modus operandi of those who use it. 

 It is probably owing to the common principle forming 

 the basis of the cast that the many variations adopted 

 have been claimed as being the Spey cast. The Spey 



