58 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



Good fly-casting, whether considered from the stand- 

 point of accuracy, delicacy, or distance, depends on 

 getting your wrist into the cast. If you make it a prac- 

 tice to grasp the rod as above indicated, with the thumb 

 lying straight along the top of the handgrasp , you will 

 soon find that you are getting your wrist into the cast 

 to a much greater extent than ever before. And when 

 you once find out what a great difference this makes, 

 you will know why, perhaps, your casting theretofore 

 has not been eminently satisfactory or proficient. 



If you cast practically at arm's length, as you will 

 often see done, delivering the line with a sweeping 



motion of the entire arm from the shoul- 

 Straight-arm d of what use t { fi d 



Casting. . n 



structed fly-rod, made especially with a 



view to the utmost speed and resilience? Straight-arm 

 casting fails entirely in putting the rod itself to work; 

 the arm motion does it all and very poorly. But once 

 get the wrist into the cast and you will find the rod, 

 if it is a good one, bending from handgrasp to tip-end 

 and, as a result, the line jumping away as if sent for. 



Again, this method of holding the rod results in a 

 greater ability to cast accurately. The rod is under 

 perfect control and the direction of the 

 An Aid to cast> un( j er favorable conditions, will 

 deviate very slightly from the point aimed 

 for. Target shooting with a rifle and casting with a fly- 

 rod are similar in that both, quite naturally, require aim. 

 With the thumb pointing along the handgrasp proper 

 initial aim is instinctive and the rod is guided in the 

 right direction throughout the cast. 



