TOURNAMENT FLY-CASTING 137 



It is the perfect back cast that makes for a long 

 shoot, and when the back cast is right, you will 

 be surprised to see how far you can shoot if 

 you will merely carry the rod forward to the 

 stopping point u lay it down," as the saying 

 goes. In eight minutes casting time in an event, 

 it is a severe penalty to be compelled to devote 

 five minutes to replacing lost flies and you are 

 sure to snap the fly off if you hurry with the back 

 cast and slam the fine. Again, let the rod do 

 the work; that is what is was made for. It will 

 lift the heavy line, stop it, and start it going 

 again. Merely keep the line going until gravity 

 stops the farther progress of the belly, and the 

 force that has been properly applied will carry 

 the taper and leader on and out, to turn over in 

 a graceful loop, and lay out straight on the 

 water. 



Hold the line until the rod reaches the stop- 

 ping point, then let it run. Too many casters 

 let go of the line before the completion of the 

 cast. The result is that line and leader fall 

 into a heap, or the leader doubles back. The 

 forward cast with fly- and bait-rod is very much 

 alike. With the latter you carry the cast 

 through steadily, raise the thumb and let the 

 line run out. With the fly-rod you release the 

 line when the belly begins to pull. 



