166 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



of the hook being broken off. For his own convenience 

 that part of the line he is likely to use, as also the fly, 

 should be greased either with bear or mutton fat. 



He should anchor a wooden hoop in the water about 

 fifteen yards away, and continue his practice, trying to cast 

 the fly within the circle of the hoop, and endeavouring to 

 do it in a light and delicate manner. When casting on 

 water the necessity of steadily raising the rod before making 

 the back cast will be appreciated. 



When about to make the back cast the rod point should 

 be lowered towards the water, and if there be any slack 

 line it should be drawn in by the left hand. The rod 

 should then be raised, gently at first, but with an ever- 

 accelerating motion culminating in the backward switch as 

 the fly leaves the water. 



It is good practice to attain the full extension of the line 

 by a series of backward and forward casts without per- 

 mitting the line to touch or fall upon the water, the back 

 cast being made at the moment the line has extended itself 

 forward. It not only enables the beginner to obtain a 

 correct action, by striving for the horizontal extension of his 

 line, but teaches him the time which it takes for the line to 

 extend itself backward, the forward extension being observ- 

 able, and occupying the same length of time as that taken 

 by the backward extension. 



THE APPLICATION OF FORCE TO THE ROD, AND ITS 



RESULTS 



As the rod should be imparting its greatest impulse to the 

 line at the instant the backward or the forward action 

 ceases, and as the hand, wrist and forearm are at this instant 

 rigid, the latent force communicated to and partially held 

 by the rod, as shown by its curvature, is now able as the 

 rod straightens itself to communicate its pent up energy 



