METHODS OF CASTING A SALMON FLY 317 



The hands grasp the rod firmly, the thumbs being extended 

 along the handle. In the normal fishing position the arms 

 should be inclined downward, the hands holding the rod in 

 a nearly horizontal position, one hand being just behind the 

 hip and the other in front of the body (see Plate XXXVIII.). 



THE RIGHT-HANDED OVERHEAD CAST 



The normal manner of standing and holding the rod 

 before making this back cast is as follows : The right foot 

 should be in advance and pointing in the plane in which the 

 line has to travel, the weight of the body being evenly 

 distributed between the two feet.J 



The right hand grasps the handle of the rod above the 

 reel, the left hand being below it ; the right arm, shoulder 

 and foot should be pointing forward, and the rod held well 

 down (see Plate XXXVI.). 



The object of the back cast is to extend the line in the 

 air behind the fisherman, to a point opposite to that at which 

 the fly has to alight at the end of the forward cast. 



In making the backward cast the rod is first raised and 

 brought slightly forward with both hands, so that its top 

 rises vertically upwards. See the position of the hands, 

 arms and body in Plate XXXIX. 



The backward action is then made in the vertical plane of 

 the body by moving the two hands in opposite directions, 

 pulling back the right hand and pushing forward the left 

 one, and at the same time slightly raising the rod. The 

 Diagram 16 and those showing the movements of the trout 

 rod should be again considered, as they also show the angles 

 and the movements, etc., made by the salmon rod. 



J The left foot should not be in front unless the left hand is uppermost on 

 the rod, as it most certainly detracts from the command over the forward 

 cast. The right hand dominates the right handed cast, therefore the right 

 side and right foot should be in such a position as to give it the greatest 

 power and assistance. 



