122 HINTS TO DRY-FLY FISHERMEN. 



probably is that the underhanded action propels 

 the fly out in a horizontal line at a slight elevation 

 above the level of the water, and the effect of any 

 excess of force in it is simply to pull the fly back 

 a slight distance in the air by the recoil of the rod, 

 and, in the act of falling, the weight of metal in 

 the bend of the hook, as well as the balancing- 

 effect of the wings separated in the shape of the 

 letter V, tends to keep the fly in its natural po- 

 sition with the wings up. There are also two 

 other strong points in favour of the ''underhanded 

 cast": Firstly, that the rod-point being always 

 kept down is never over the water, and the re- 

 flection of it, or of the waving motion of the rod, 

 must be less visible to the fish than in the case of 

 the ordinary overhanded throw ; secondly, that 

 practically speaking, the Angler who can and does 

 use this cast is independent of the direction of the 

 wind, and can direct the fly actually in the teeth 

 of anything short of an absolute gale. It must, 

 however, be noted that it is far more difficult to 

 place the fly accurately with the underhanded 

 cast, than with the ordinary overhanded one, as 

 when throwing underhanded the rod-point, and 

 consequently the fly, travels horizontally across 

 the point aimed at, and not vertically down on it. 

 Now, to consider the fourth desideratum, viz. : 

 To place the fly lightly on the water so that it 

 floats accurately over the fish without the slightest 

 drag ; in other words, delicacy and accuracy of 



