SECRETS OF THE SALMON 



knack can be acquired easily if the caster will put 

 something between the upper arm and the body 

 and hold it there by the pressure of the arm. Mr. 

 La Branche suggests a glass whiskey flask and 

 standing the caster on a stone. He says he will 

 not raise his arm as long as there is anything in 

 the flask. In this position the rod cannot be 

 thrown far back and a good backline is easily 

 secured. Turn and watch your backline and pay 

 no attention to the front cast until you get a good 

 high straight backline. After that the front 

 cast is easy; just push the rod forward, increasing 

 the speed a little at the end, and the line will shoot 

 through the guides. A good cast will always pull 

 the line in the guides and the fly will lay out 

 straight. After you get so that you have a straight 

 backline and can shoot the line six to ten feet 

 through the guides on the first cast, you are on the 

 way to cast properly, and like the Alderman who 

 proposed putting only two gondolas on the lake in 

 Central Park, I shall leave the rest to nature. But 

 it may be asked how I know when I am casting well 

 enough. With a six-and-a-quarter-ounce rod and 

 proper line and leader any one ought to be able to 

 cast seventy feet at least. A good cast would be 

 eighty feet and an expert should cast ninety to 



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