338 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



cannot tell you how. There is practically a sort of mem- 

 ory of the muscles, sometimes called force of habit, and 

 it is this that the fly-caster must sooner or later acquire 

 if he would reach even mediocrity. 



It is as easy to acquire a good habit as a bad, and far 

 more profitable. To aid the beginner in this is the object 

 of this chapter. It cannot more fitly close than by re- 

 iterating once more, remember the secret of success lies in 

 the back cast. 



This chapter was ready for the printer when that day 

 looked forward to with such impatience for the preced- 

 ing ten months, the day when I was to depart for my 

 annual six weeks in the Maine woods, arrived. Had any 

 man told me the year before, when with a half -sup- 

 pressed groan I disjointed my rod on the evening of the 

 last day of the open season, that I should never wet line 

 again unless beyond the river of life, I should have as- 

 sented to its possibility. But had he said that before 

 another season I should write a book on fly-fishing a 

 subject involving so much, and of which, compared with 

 its extent, I know so little I should have thought he 

 was mad. Who can resist to the end the flattery and 

 the solicitations of the friends he loves ? 



Many anglers of all grades in the art, from the lady 

 beginner on the outskirts of the wilderness, to the fin- 

 ished expert within its inmost recesses, have passed 

 under my observation, I know not without profit to me 

 I hope not without advantage to the beginner to whom 

 I have addressed myself. 



Casting is by no means all of fly-fishing. It is an art, 

 and one not easy to acquire in perfection ; but the 

 greater part of the difficulty usually experienced is due 



