Casting the Fly. 831 



light, and without much conscious exertion of force, and 

 this with a high back fly and the proper pause, then you 

 are ready for another step forward. Practise casting 

 over the left shoulder for two or three lessons, and 

 then casting sideways, i.e., moving the rod horizontally 

 or nearly so. The same principles govern success in 

 these as in the overhead cast. But first thoroughly 

 master the overhead cast; these modifications will then 

 seem a mere bagatelle. 



Permit me to caution you in the most decided manner 

 not to strive after a long cast, for this is the sure way 

 never to attain it. Let this take care of itself. By no 

 means attempt thirty-five feet, until thirty can be cast 

 without perceptible effort, and that in good, cleanly fash- 

 ion. Do your practising, after you have attained the 

 complete mastery of forty feet, at that distance. At the 

 end of the lesson take a couple of innings or so at forty- 

 three to forty-five feet, thus making your distance prac- 

 tice an entirely separate and distinct thing. Hang to 

 that distance until you master it completely and with 

 perfect ease, and then, and not till then, add two or three 

 feet and not more. Proceed in this way adding but two 

 or three feet at most at each increase, and sticking to 

 that until you master it completely before attempting 

 more. At over forty - five feet you should devote at 

 least a week to the next additional three feet, without a 

 thought of anything beyond. Fifty feet is about the 

 maximum fishing distance ordinarily employed; but by 

 rigid adherence to these rules you will easily acquire 

 command of seventy feet, provided you master the high 

 back cast and the pause. Otherwise you will never be 

 able to do fifty-five feet decently. 



Remember that to cast sixty feet is not to boggle at 



