150 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



more than three or four complete backward and forward 

 casts of the rod a pause of one or two minutes should then 

 ensue and the process be recommenced. No lesson on one 

 subject should exceed one hour in duration each day, but 

 the mind can be directed to a consideration of the exact 

 actions which constitute each complete backward and 

 forward movement of the rod at as many intervals during 

 the day as opportunity will afford, and the more frequent 

 the repetition of the mental consideration of the exact 

 movements required the sooner will a correct habit be 

 formed. It follows from this that when once a correct idea 

 is established in the mind of the beginner as to what he has 

 to try to do, and the immediate results which will follow 

 his doing this correctly, he will with very little difficulty 

 acquire as a habit the basis on which correct casting rests, 

 which is the ability to extend the fly backward and 

 forward. 



To ascertain the correct action of the hand which grasps 

 the rod, when projecting the fly in the forward and back- 

 ward casts, is the first and most important matter for 

 consideration. 



Every action deliberately performed in response to desire 

 is made by muscles consciously or subconsciously controlled, 

 and before they can be subconsciously controlled, i.e., before 

 the action becomes a habit, the brain cells, or cell controlling 

 the particular muscles which produce the action, must be 

 educated by carefully repeated mental consideration of the 

 exact movement or movements which will effect the 

 object of our desire. The more resolutely we adhere to 

 the habit of thinking out fully any movement we have to 

 make before allowing ourselves to make it, the more 

 quickly will a correct habit be acquired, and the more 

 readily can we perform such an action without conscious 

 effort. 



