16 THE SCIENCE OF DRY FLY FISHING. 



obtained by the line when extended the more lightly will 

 it fall on the water, which is the object of all fly-casting. 



The steeple cast, which can be used either to avoid 

 dangers behind the fisherman or to get out an extra long 

 line, is somewhat similar to the overhead cast. In the 

 back cast, however, the muscles of the shoulder are used. 

 The whole arm is swung back to the right, and extended 

 to its full length above and behind the shoulder ; thus the 

 rod is not, as before, brought vertically over the shoulder. 

 The angle which the arm and rod make with the horizon 

 at the end of the strike is the same as in the overhead 

 cast, that is about 50 degrees. The right shoulder, the 

 side, and the hip of the body swing round with the arm as 

 the stroke is made, the weight of the body being supported 

 on the flat of the right foot and the fore part of the 

 left foot. (See Plate IX.) Before casting forward I 

 recommend that during the pause the elbow should be 

 dropped, the point of the rod brought forward a little, 

 and the shoulders squared, the line being returned 

 vertically from over the shoulders, as in the overhead 

 cast. I can personally get a longer line forward this 

 way than when making the forward cast with the 

 extended arm and forward swing of the right side of 

 the body, and, I think, with a more delicate result. 



Having mastered the principles of overhead casting, 

 the student will have little difficulty in adapting them 

 to the necessary variations in order to baffle the 



