154 CASTING TACKLE AND METHODS 



the beginning of the cast. The rod is not raised but 

 swung around the body from the beginning of the 

 cast. The rod is not raised but whipped sidewise. 

 Good, as the reader can readily realize, for casting 

 under trees, and a cast for the bank fisherman to 

 perfect. I am well aware that some anglers poke all 

 manner of fun at the "side-swiper," as they dub the 

 man employing the side cast, but outside of a boat it 

 is a very convenient method. 



What I am pleased to term in my own mind the 

 "underhand cast," begins even lower down, at about 

 the height of the knees, and swings upward as the 

 cast progresses until the tip of the rod is shoulder 

 high. Once the student catches the trick he will be 

 surprised to find that he can get out a vast amount 

 of line. But for control and accuracy, always em- 

 ploy the overhead method. As I have already inti- 

 mated, the side cast u side-swipe" is very danger- 

 ous to a companion. I was casting with a man from 

 India a few years ago, when suddenly something 

 struck my head like a thousand of brick; it was a 

 multi-hooked plug. Fortunately I was wearing a 

 wool hat, pulled low to protect my eyes from the rays 

 of the setting sun, otherwise I would have been 

 cruelly hurt. Always sit down in a boat when cast- 

 ing unless it is built on the lines of a mud-scow. By 

 the way, in practice casting it is a good plan now and 

 then to attempt the sport from a chair. Just place 

 the chair out upon the lawn and, standing on it, try 



