EARLY CASTING PRACTICE 43 



" Bob " always insisted on two or three main 

 principles in casting : namely, keeping the arm well 

 in to the side ; a taut wrist ; an upright swing of the 

 fore-arm from the elbow joint, and a firm grip of 

 the rod with the thumb up the handle. "Aim at a 

 yard abune t' watter and give her time as she settles 

 doon, and doan't click back at end o' t' cast. It's 

 kittlest time for catchen just as t' flees drop ower 

 ther heeds. When yev maide yer cast, stiddy a 

 moment and then keep yer main line straight and 

 off t' watter by raisen t' point o' yer rod quietly and 

 followen t' line doon. Some o' ye haven't lamed 

 hoo to pick ye line off t' watter yit. As yer drawen 

 back ye owt to feel as if t' watter was pullen at t' 

 other end summat like a catapult. Efter a pull 

 like that, t' rod-top springs back and taks t' line wi' 

 it. Just befoor it gits straight back behint ye and 

 feels as if it was turnen t' corner, bring yer rod 

 smoothly, but nut ower sharply, back again, and 

 keep yer rod nearly straight up at turn o' t' cast. 

 If yer elbow's weel in to yer side ye cannot git ower 

 far back wi' t' point o' yer rod. T' langer yer line 

 and t' mair difficult is't to get it off t' watter reet." 



And so the practice went on, with here a little 

 and there a little quaint hint from " Bob," with many 

 conferences amongst ourselves, and comparisons of 

 the casting powers of our home-made rods. Judg- 



