THE SPEY CAST. 341 



bring it round in an " O.G." fashion before making the thrash-down in 

 continuation of the sweep of the double curve. 



However, the young aspirant who, with an intense desire to obtain 

 the key to Angling knowledge, has cast a longing eye upon the " Spey," 

 and secretly wonders at the result incident to the method, should clearly 

 understand that the principle owes its success to that one bold, urging, 

 persistent movement of the rod which refuses to be hindered in making 

 progress by quasi-jerks, or, in fact, by anything that shall check, bias, or 

 alter its even undulating, progress, and finally vigorous action. 



The cast is made in one motion, without intermission, and not in 

 two. The point of the rod keeps steady. If the rod does not maintain 

 its bend, the point quivers and shakes, the very symptom of which 

 forbodes defeat. Neither can it be impressed upon the beginner too 

 strongly that the rod, not stiff in action, must be sensitive to the tug of 

 the line, the loss of which influence absolutely destroys the intended 

 effect of the whole proceeding. Although the " Kelson " covers 40 yards 

 and more, the rod I like best for this business is built by Farlow on the 

 lines of one altered again and again at the riverside and fashioned by 

 myself. I like it, not only because a long line is easily worked, but also 

 because the rod possesses a certain power that comes to the rescue at 

 those times when the wind renders Spey-casting almost impracticable. 



(Sometimes we are obliged to change the position of hands. As an 

 instance of this, when the wind crossing the water blows the line much 

 towards the bank, we put the left hand above the right, lift the line as 

 before towards the right shoulder, and, after bringing the rod well round 

 overhead to the near side, make the downcast left-handed. It is 

 eminently desirable to exercise this extra care and judgment, inasmuch as 

 some people exhibit on these occasions a curiously elaborate capacity for 

 hooking themselves in the cheek ; whereas if they shorten the line, put on 

 less steam, and proceed in the manner described, gradually increasing the 

 length of the line, the operation of cutting off every atom of material from 

 their imbedded fly before the bare hook is removed from its hold point 

 first, would never be required. Sometimes one or two, or maybe three, 

 false casts are necessary in order to " pick up" the line properly. These 

 are made as far as possible away from the fish, inside or outside their lay- 



