DIFFERENT METHODS OF CASTING 179 



CASTING A LONG DISTANCE 



When endeavouring to " get out " a particularly long 

 line, you must always remember that you can cast forward 

 a greater length of line than you can lift off the water. The 

 final back cast should be of such a length that you are 

 absolutely certain of not only lifting your line off the water, 

 but of extending it behind you in a live state i.e., so that 

 every portion of the line should be still under the influence 

 of its initial backward impetus when you make your final 

 forward cast. 



The secret of long-distance casting, therefore, consists in 

 the actual knowledge of the greatest length of line which 

 you can lift and cast backward and forward in a live state, 

 and the ability to shoot, i.e., get out the greatest amount of 

 line in your forward cast. To be able to cast a long, and 

 at the same time an accurate and delicate line is of inestim- 

 able use at times when dry fly fishing. The greater the 

 distance at which you can reach your fish, the less necessity 

 there is to crouch, crawl, etc., and it may be taken as an 

 axiom that he who can from his skill and experience cast a 

 long and delicate line can with equal ease, and even greater 

 accuracy, cast his fly over any intermediate distance. 



It is sometimes averred that the ability to cast a long 

 distance is useless, because of the greater difficulty in quickly 

 striking a fish, but those who recommend a pause between 

 the rise and the strike should not complain on this account. 

 There are rises of trout which can only be covered by a 

 long cast, and for this reason alone the ability to cast a long 

 distance should be practised. That a strike can be more 

 quickly made, when a short line is being used, goes without 

 question, but unless a fisherman has practised long casting 

 he will be unable to take advantage of the chance offered 

 when trout are rising at a greater distance from him than 

 usual, either on a lake or river. 



