170 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



performed, and rapidly achieve success in this new method 

 of casting a fly.* 



WRIST AND ARM ACTION 



At no time when in the act of casting with a single-handed 

 rod should the relationship between the rod, the hand, the 

 wrist and the forearm be relaxed. Just as the metal sockets 

 of each rod joint form the different lengths of the rod into 

 one vibrant whole so should the hand, with as subconscious 

 a mental effort as that which controls the grasp of the 

 fingers on the pen or pencil with which we are writing, 

 make the forearm into another and final length of the 

 rod. 



To learn to do this " attention " must be maintained in 

 the mind and concentrated on the finger and thumb of the 

 hand when holding the rod during practice, and continued 

 until the muscles are controlled subconsciously that is, 

 until a correct habit of thus holding and using the rod is 

 formed. 



The line, being always attached to the rod, is affected 

 by its every movement, and it is necessary, therefore, that 

 the rod should travel through definite arcs, through definite 

 planes, and with definite velocities, having a definite pivotal 

 action, and being actuated by definite muscles. If the 

 thumb and fingers holding the rod are loosened, or a wrist 

 action is enforced, the hand loses the aid of the principal 

 muscles of the forearm, and a weakened impulse is all that 

 can be communicated to the rod, to the line, and to the fly, 

 by the muscles controlling the wrist. The wrist is, or should 

 be, kept under rigid control during the whole time in which 

 the hand is employed, either when holding the rod when the 



* " Let the young angler be content with doing what he does do well ; 

 increasing his range of practice by little and slow degrees, and making sure 

 fishing of every extra foot he gains." A Book on Angling, 1885, by 

 Francis Francis. 



