THE PROPER TACKLE. 333 



fly fishes deep and the Angler has a better chance of striking and hooking 

 properly ; and secondly, the lifting the line for another cast can be better 

 accomplished. 



Now the only element of uncertainty in connection with the 

 " Underhand " turns upon the question of one's appointments. The cast, 

 for example, with a line too light for the action of the rod, cannot be 

 made to the satisfaction of critical eyes. The principle of the method is 

 a safe and sure tell-tale of a light line. Unless the line is heavy enough 

 the tug dies away, in which case, obviously, considerable force for the 

 thrash-down must be employed or the whole thing fails. 



The general principle under which the Angler can best judge of this 

 matter for himself, is simply to watch for a certain symmetrical form of 

 the rod, just before the line leaves the water. The picture, however, here 

 comes to the rescue. It should convey to the observer a thorough idea 

 both of the form of the rod at that moment, as well as the effect of its 

 action consequent therefrom. If the rod were less bent at that moment, 

 the line would in all probability be too thin or too light ; if more bent, too 

 bulky or too heavy. As regards the action of the rod itself, here, likewise, 

 I am conscious of the somewhat indefinite nature of verbal instruction. 

 It is too well known that in selecting a rod from the maker even with 

 that " other eye," like Sam Slick's artist's, which takes the view before 

 the a2t of vision is completed many questions will arise which are 

 extremely difficult of solution. What an unnamed rod will be like in use, 

 we cannot tell with exactitude in a tackle shop, for there is absolutely no 

 criterion to go by. In short, no human ingenuity can devise a plan by 

 which we can make sure even of a greenheart rod, unless it were one of 

 the few that are christened by men whose names are, in themselves, a 

 guarantee the very few of which, in the hands of experts, the one is 

 equal to this cast, this to that, and the other to them all. And there it 

 must end. 



To sum up my remarks, if the patient pursuit of excellence in Under- 

 hand casting is not uniformly rewarded in rapids or under falls, it meets 

 with its full share of recompense in pools, and particularly in ruffled but 

 steady and straight flowing waters. With that observation we will pass 

 on to the method adopted in the Highlands. 



