202 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



of twenty-two degrees behind the vertical, by the thumb, 

 which, with the forearm, is now pointing vertically upward. 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE THUMB IN THE FORWARD CAST 



The rod should be dominated by the thumb from now to 

 the conclusion of the forward cast (see Plate XVII). After 

 a pause to allow the line to extend itself backward, the forward 

 and downward action of the rod should be commenced by 

 a steadily increasing forward and downward curving pressure 

 of the point of the thumb. 



The pressure or push forward of the thumb produces a 

 forward bend in the rod, which acquires an answering 

 forward and downward velocity, until it is stopped dead at an 

 angle of twenty-two degrees above the horizon ; the action 

 of the hand in checking it here should be again dominated 

 by the forefinger. 



Now, however light may be the pressure on the rod of 

 either the finger or the thumb in these duties, yet an 

 absolutely controlled rigidity of the wrist will follow, and it 

 cannot displace the elbow as a pivotal hinge. 



MENTAL EFFORT 



If " attention "* be given to the respective pressures of 

 the rod by the forefinger and the thumb, the elastic con- 

 tinuity of the rod and forearm is maintained and the pivotal 

 action of the elbow is enforced. 



Fortunately the mental effort of using the forefinger and 

 thumb, which is necessary to effect the correct hold of the 

 rod, has, in other actions, become such an habitual process 

 in our daily life that we can apply it when casting a fly. 



We have only to think of one of the many thumb or 



* By " attention," as I have explained elsewhere, I do not mean attention 

 to a thought or action which is habitual, but attention to mental effort 

 which is original, such as that which is required to keep the thumb at a 

 constant angle to the forearm during the effort of casting. 



