THE SPEY THROW 231 



cast is, after all, but a variation of the perfect form 

 of the loop cast, which I have already described, and 

 which latter can be successfully made with any rod 

 and line, and on any water, but in using which cast it 

 is an impossibility to shoot the line. 



Under the heading " The Loop Cast," I showed how 

 a line could be extended in a forward movement when 

 dangers existed to either side and behind the fisher- 

 man. The rod was raised vertically, and when a slight 

 curve had been allowed to form behind the rod (see 

 Plate XXXIII.) the rod was brought forward, and a 

 perfect loop of the line (see Plate XXXV.) was sent out, 

 picking up the line from the water as it unrolled itself 

 on the surface* and finally extending the fly at the 

 extremity of the cast. It is precisely by means of a 

 similar impulse made more or less to the side that the 

 orthodox Spey cast is made. The rod is not, however, 

 brought back vertically over the head, but after being 

 raised sufficiently high to clear the greater part of 

 the line from the water, it is swung well backward 

 to the right or left side, and returned forward 

 toward the desired spot in one continuous action (see 

 Plate XXXVI.). 



As in the loop cast, the object is not to extend the 

 fly behind the fisherman, or to take it off the water, 

 that is, until it is lifted by the forward travelling loop. 

 Hence the rod must not impart too much impetus to 

 the backward movement, just sufficient to lift the line 

 well to the surface of the water, and to bring back 

 enough line to either side of the fisherman, to ensure 



