FLY-CASTING AND FLY-FISHING 61 



cast; not to delay the back cast too long, and to start 

 it forcefully; to start the forward cast when the line 

 first begins to pull on the rod, and to start it rather 

 easily and finish strongly; and, finally, not to allow the 

 rod to go too far down toward the water at the end of 

 the forward cast. 



We come now to a very important factor in good 



fly-casting, one which, it seems to the writer, is never 



sufficiently emphasized indeed, is usu- 



Two-handed ally entire i y disregarded in the written 



^" treatises on fly-casting. I refer to the 



matter and manner of using the left hand, taking it for 



granted that the caster is right-handed, to manipulate 



the line ; the reader will please consider everything said 



in reference thereto as written in capitals. 



Briefly, the caster should grasp the line with his left 

 hand, between the reel and the first guide, and all 

 paying out and retrieving of the line, either when 

 casting, fishing the flies, or playing a trout, should be 

 with the left hand. The advantages of this method of 

 line handling are manifold, and ability to perform it 

 skilfully is of the utmost importance. A loop of line 

 of reasonable length, not so long as to invite fouling, 

 should always be maintained between the reel and the 

 first guide so that at the end of the forward cast (when 

 the hold of the left hand on the line is slightly relaxed) 

 this loop will shoot out through the rod guides, thereby 

 adding a number of feet to the cast. Casting at any 

 thing over moderate distances can only be done by this 

 method. 



Learning to use the left hand in the above manner 



