THE PAUSE IN THE BACK CAST. 11 



the judging of the correct length of this pause which is the 

 secret of a successful forward cast. This pause will vary 

 in duration from many causes : wind, quality of rod, length 

 of line, force and speed of the back cast, etc., all influence 

 the speed of the backward moving line, and, consequently, 

 no fixed length of time for this pause could possibly be 

 given. It must not be of such duration as to permit 

 the line falling toward the ground. 



Under average conditions I have found that, with 

 fifteen yards of line out, a pause equal in length to 

 the time taken in making the back cast is sufficient ; but, 

 by following back your line with the eye in practice, you 

 will soon be able to seize the psychological moment for 

 your forward cast. 



By the terms "strike" and "cast" I mean the switch- 

 ing impulse given to the line by the arm, either backward 

 or forward respectively, and not any lowering, side, or 

 other movements of the arm or rod, unless made at the 

 same time as the strike or cast. 



The forward cast should be made at the expiration 

 of the necessary pause, and made as though the striker 

 were now switching a piece of clay in a forward direction. 

 The force required is slightly less than the back stroke, 

 and should have ceased by the time the rod makes an 

 angle of 40 degrees with the horizon (see Plate VI.), unless 

 when casting against the wind. 



The line, actuated by the forward switch, will be seen 



