THE SCIENCE OF CASTING A TROUT FLY 165 



It is at the commencement of this final lowering of the 

 rod that the slack line should be released in " shooting." 

 When the fly has settled on the water, the forearm can be 

 again raised as desired to its horizontal, i.e., normal, position 

 (see page 160). 



In the backward cast the power gradually applied is 

 greater at the beginning of the upward movement, for the 

 rod and line have to be lifted, and the latter has to be forced 

 from the frictional contact of the water, and though the 

 movement of the top of the rod is thus checked, the velocity 

 of the hand is accelerated. The higher the rod is lifted the 

 less becomes its weight on the forefinger, and the less the 

 pull of the water, yet its velocity has to be increased in 

 order to keep the bend in the rod and thus to give the greatest 

 impulse to the line at the moment at which the backward 

 effort ceases. In the forward cast the frictional resistance 

 of the water has not to be encountered, and therefore the 

 curve becomes more regular and wholly eccentric (see 

 Diagram 12), the elbow making one continuous downward 

 and backward motion (see E. Diagram 12), the pivotal move- 

 ment of the upper arm at the shoulder harmonizing with 

 this elliptical curve. 



PRACTISING OVER WATER 



The student should soon acquire the ability to extend 

 his line easily and lightly in any desired direction. He 

 should always remember to point his right foot and to keep 

 his eye directed toward the spot at which he wishes his fly 

 to alight. 



When he has acquired accuracy in this important matter, 

 he can commence his casting on any available and adjacent 

 water. A fairly stout and well-soaked cast of gut, about 

 six feet in length, and an artificial fly of fairly large pattern, 

 should be attached to the end of his tapered line, the point 



