THE POSITION OF THE FEET. 829 



It is important for beginners to possess the most accurate ideas of 

 the position of the feet and legs. This varies more or less in accordance 

 with circumstances. For instance, on land, as in easy flowing streams, 

 the Angler stands fairly upright and less sideways than in Overhand 

 casting, as shown by the sketches. He, moreover, places his feet to suit 

 his own comfort and convenience, though, as a rule, the right foot in left- 

 hand casting is a little in advance of the other, and generally faces the 

 ultimate direction of the line. But in rapids this is not so, because, as I 

 have said, safety must be studied before convenience. It is simply 

 dangerous, if not utterly impossible, to fish in rapids unless the Fisherman 

 stands altogether sideways and leans well against the current up-stream, 

 leg bent, and facing rather that way ; the down-stream leg extended, and 

 the foot pointing somewhat with the run of the water. 



It may be said that, on land, the sole object of the Angler's attitude 

 is absolute freedom an easy working, unattended by any intermediate 

 tax on the workman as in the case of the " Overhand," e.g., the looking 

 behind. 



In the present instance, i.e., in rapids, the position is decidedly 

 cramped. The Angler is, so to speak, limited to the use only of his arms ; 

 the firmer and the more rigidly he holds himself the better. And here, I 

 would repeat, that in moving onwards the up-stream leg always takes 

 the first short step ; the other then feels its way before the foot is 

 planted. 



Now in propelling the fly, the Angler makes the back sweep of the 

 rod with unwavering confidence of success. He/eeZs rather than sees that 

 the line is dragged from the water, that it travels round in the air far 

 enough behind him so as to tug the point of the rod, the action of which 

 alone propels the fly. This is equal to saying that the line is steadily 

 drawn from the water rather than hurriedly lifted, and that the thrash- 

 down is made without vigourous muscular exertion. 



In lifting the line, the rod may appear to the eye of a spectator to 

 bend considerably, but provided all jerking is foresworn and a steady 

 swing of the arms pursued, its action is, nevertheless, so even and regular 

 that failure is almost impossible. So far, however, as regards the force 

 to be applied, we must bear in mind that the line is only partially 



