6 THE SCIENCE OF DRY FLY FISHING. 



a nearly horizontal position as the line runs off the reel, 

 keeping the check of reel on. Your friend must now lay 

 his end of the line down on the grass. The position of 

 your body should be as follows : 



The right foot slightly advanced and pointing in 

 the direction of the line, the left foot slightly behind and 

 pointing to the left, the weight of the body resting on 

 both feet, the right shoulder very slightly advanced, and 

 the body erect. The upper part of the right arm pointing 

 downwards and close to the side, with the elbow well 

 in advance of the body, the forearm extended in the same 

 nearly horizontal direction with the rod, which must be 

 held firmly. (See Plates I. and II.) 



Now the object you should have in view is to learn 

 how to cast your line (and fly) straight in front of you, 

 and it will be evident that before casting forward you 

 must get the line more or less extended behind you ; 

 thus the back cast, which effects this, is the first, and 

 probably the most important, thing you have to learn ; 

 therefore I want you to patiently practise this back cast 

 before attempting to make the forward cast. Before you 

 do this there is one important point to remember, 

 that the right elbow should be raised as little as 

 possible, and a good plan is for you to have just at 

 first a string or cord fastened right round the body and 

 the arm just above the elbow, not too tight, but sufficiently 

 so to keep the elbow well down. If this is done, and the 



