THE SPEY CAST. 337 



The tackle being extended down stream, you first get a downward 

 curve in the portion of line out of water, by raising the rod somewhat 

 gently towards the position seen in Illustration No. 1 ; then, without any 

 intermission, you get the curve in the contrary direction (upward) on the 

 eve of lifting the fly-end out, by slightly dropping the rod-point when 

 near the perpendicular, outwards ; and, still carrying the rod easily and 

 regularly back and round inwards, so that the point of it forms the 

 outline (see Illustration 1) of a reversed letter S, you finally complete the 

 cast, just as the fly-end of the line is lightly striking the water near 

 your outer side, by a hearty " thrash-down " aimed at the destined 

 direction of the fly, as depicted in Illustrations Nos. 2 and 3. 



The student should get these few words fixed in his mind and be 

 able to follow their meaning before perusing further explanations. When 

 he has succeeded so far, having, I take it, become intimate with the 

 " Underhand," if only by the association of ideas, he can mentally draw 

 comparisons between the early part of the two casts, and form a clear 

 notion of the design and purpose for which each is done He will realise 

 that in the Spey cast instead of the fly being drawn out of water higher 

 and higher from its surface until it turns up and round in the air behind 

 the Angler, it has (with one brilliant exception) to be drawn no further 

 up-stream than beside him. And he will understand that by the law of 

 mechanics as the fly has to strike the water beside him, the point of the 

 rod must descend for that purpose before it finally rises to make the 

 thrash-down. The very fact of this descent and ascent compels the 

 fly to take an up-and-down course in the air before it strikes the 

 water. 



What would be the result of making the first part of the " Spey " 

 without dropping the point of the rod outwards as the first part of the 

 " Underhand " is made ? 



Simply defeat, from the fact (1) that the line would not leave the 

 water, and (2) that it would be dragged in the water towards the Angler 

 only a limited portion of the desired distance. But, in spite of this, I am 

 inclined to the opinion that the easiest way of learning to make the line 

 strike the water as stated, is to fancy you are making a sort of " Under- 

 hand," not failing to slightly raise the point of the rod at starting, and to 



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