THE FLIP CAST. 371 



previously described, must be consistently adopted. You may, however, 

 rest assured that the remedy will not be required often, provided the 

 interval between each cast be not unduly prolonged. 



Coming now to explain the thrash-down, as shown in Illustration 

 2, the method differs but slightly from that employed under ordinary 

 circumstances. The process from gradual becomes rapid, and looks like 

 developing what the meteorologists are accustomed to describe as "dan- 

 gerous energy." It would be perhaps safer for the novice if he made a 

 sharp thrash-through, and not attempt to check the rod at the usual 

 angle of 45 degrees. But all fear of the rod is soon reduced to a 

 minimum, save perhaps in the case of too much force being used on 

 those occasions when the wind counteracts the effect of the Peter by 

 blowing the line out of gear. 



One of the commonest errors may frequently be traced to the inherent 

 desire to bring the rod, in the " back sweep," further than at an angle of 

 45 degrees any such propensity should be strenuously avoided. And, 

 moreover, I would strongly caution the Angler in accepting all hurried 

 instruction that would induce him to bring the rod round by his side too 

 low. The loss of the tug of the line might lead him to do so ; but, in my 

 opinion, following such advice as that is wrong in any case, though it 

 requires no little courage to say so. 



The thrash of the rod, when executed as described, forms a sort of 

 loop in the line (see Fig. 2) , which seems to rush along the surface of the 

 water until at last the fly drops over and alights at its proper destination. 



THE FLIP CAST. 



The Flip proper is a sort of side cast side flip, in fact which the 

 practised Angler can learn in a day. 



I say a sort of side cast, though it in no way resembles the Side Cast 

 as practised on the Shannon and elsewhere. The Irish claim to be masters 

 of that method, and there is no doubt that their tackle is eminently 

 adapted to the purpose. For making the Side Cast no rod quite equals 

 the Castle Connell, but I am inclined to the belief that, apart from the 

 clever way in which our neighbours are accustomed to use it, their system, 

 when adopted by us, is more for the sake of a change than for a necessity. 



u H 2 



