128 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



beginners, be thefirstlearnt, and then practised unto perfection. They 

 can be performed with great accuracy, so as to enable the angler to 

 determine, almost to an inch, the precise spot on which his fly is to fall. 

 They cause the fly and casting-line to touch the water first, and enable 

 the fisher to commence working the fly, or showingit to the fish, sooner 

 and better than he could do if much of the winch -line came in contact 

 with the water simultaneously with the casting-line, or a moment before. 



The effect of the straight cast is less disturbance to the water than 

 that of any other species of cast. In fishing down a river from its right 

 bank, you hold your rod with the left hand above the winch, and the 

 right one beneath it ; left leg foremost, and left side towards the water. 

 You bring your rod round, by, over, and beyond the point of your left 

 shoulder, which motion will carry the line to its full extent upwards 

 over the bed of the river, and feeling that the line is so extended, you 

 bring back a little, in the direction you are going to cast, the point of 

 the rod, and making use chiefly of the action of the left arm, you propel 

 the line forward by a motion which you make with the rod, as if you 

 were going to strike at something hovering over the river in the direction 

 you wish your fly to go. The forward motion of the rod will be checked 

 at a short distance, unless you bend forward with it, and the line will 

 be sent straight out, the fly and gut-line, to which it is attached, coming 

 first in contact with the water. Yielding down the arms and bending 

 the body too much with the descending rod and line, in making the 

 cast, is a very bad habit, as it brings the point of the rod too close to 

 the surface of the water, deadens its elastic and propelling action, and 

 causes the line to fall in a loose and slovenly manner on the water. 

 This left-shoulder cast is only absolutely necessary when you are fishing 

 from beneath the right bank of a river, and have behind you impediments 

 to a right-hand sweep of your rod and line. If the right bank be flat 

 or shelving if it be clear of obstructions I can see no objection to 

 right -shoulder casting from it. I counsel the learner to practise both 

 ways, alternately, under all circumstances, for if he does he will become 

 ambidexterous in. the use of the rod, a great advantage and preventive 

 of fatigue. There are other methods of throwing the line and fly, but 

 they are difficult and should be learnt last. I do not wish to harass 

 my pupils with difficulties at the outset. When they know how to cast 

 well from the right and left shoulders they have then thoroughly learnt 

 the prose of their art. The understanding of the poetry of it will steal 

 on them unawares. 



The salmon-line and fly must be thrown as straightly down the stream 

 as possible. Casting down the current, and completely in line with it, 

 can only be done by standing in the water at the head of the stream, 

 or on some projecting rock, bridge, or weir. When you cast from the 

 bank, throw slantingly down and across the stream, bringing the fly 

 round into a line with the current without delay. The salmon-fly is 

 worked, or " humoured" against the current, and never with it, or down 

 it, like the trout-fly. If it were worked downwards it would roll over, 

 on account of the general heaviness of its wings, and frighten rather 

 than lure salmon. When worked against the current, it seems like some 



