68 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



nibbles at the worm, takes the tail off, and sometimes strips 

 the hook altogether ; it is no use striking until the float 

 disappears. It is usual to ground bait the place where carp 

 are to be angled for, doing this with broken worms, boiled 

 wheat, rice, or- peas. Sometimes three rods are employed 

 at the same time with the bait at different depths of 

 the water. When hooked, a tight line must be kept to 

 prevent the fish from getting into the weeds, which are 

 generally abundant wherever carp are found. 



Cast is a term usually applied to that portion of a river 

 known to be a favourite spot for catching fish especially 

 salmon. 



Casting? is the technical term applied to the act of 

 throwing the flies by rod and line on the surface of the 

 water when fishing. To cast well ought to be the aim of 

 every angler, and careful attention should be paid to each 

 individual cast to get into a careless habit is not only 

 unsightly but abortive. The cast made with a single 

 handed rod should be from the wrist only, and no play with 

 the arm above the elbow. The line must be brought round 

 the head, either by the right or the left, with a nice even 

 sweep, allowing the line to go out to its limit behind before 

 returning it for the forward stroke. This is to prevent the 

 flies cracking off. Casting should be practised with both 

 hands, also underhand and side casting, as all these modes 

 are found necessary at some time or other, owing to the 

 peculiarities of the water or the surroundings of it. The 

 point of the rod need not be thrown behind the head; there 

 is no necessity for doing so, as the elastic qualities of the 

 rod are quite capable, or should be made so, of getting the 

 line well out with very little manual exertion. In casting, 

 fix the eye on an object, or an imaginary one, if the first is 



