112 SUMMER ANGLING 



you how to use it, and let me here say that the 

 most successful fly-fisher is he who knows how to 

 drop his fly daintily, rather than he who only 

 knows how to cast a long line. Most fish are 

 caught within fifty feet ; and you need not, there- 

 fore, endeavor to learn how to cast ninety feet 

 at the first start. 



Fig. 62. 

 Improper Method of Casting. 



Here is the procedure I recommend 

 to the beginner. Take a boat and row 

 out into a lake ; casting on the grass 

 will do, but water is better. Now 

 grasp your fly-rod firmly by the handle ; the 

 reel below the. hand (no matter what anybody else 

 says), and hanging from the rod ; the grasp should 

 be as shown in Fig. 45 ; and if you use the 

 automatic reel, the little finger must go round 

 the break, as shown, but not on it, except where 

 necessary to draw out line or land a fish. Draw 

 out from the reel a few yards of line, and, waving 

 the rod with a smart movement, cause it to pass 

 through the guides. The cast is made by drawing 



