STREAMCRAFT 



straight behind you, you wait just long enough 

 for the line to lose its life. The forward-cast, 

 then, should be started when the line, having 

 passed to the rear of the caster, first begins to 

 pull appreciably on the rod. But do not start 

 the forward-cast too quickly, because this is 

 likely to snap off the end fly." 



The two-handed style of casting is preferred. 

 We are not now referring to the use of two hands 

 on the rod, as in casting with the double-grasp 

 salmon-rod, but to that method in which the 

 caster, taking the line in his left hand between 

 the reel and the first guide, pays out and re- 

 trieves it with this hand when casting, fishing 

 the flies, or playing a fish. (See again the picture 

 of Mr. La Branche in action.) In making the 

 fishing cast, the ensuing back-cast, and in strik- 

 ing a fish be sure to hold the left hand rigid, 

 close to the body, or else hook a finger of the 

 rod-hand over the line to hold it firmly. The 

 loop of line, retained between the reel and the 

 bottom guide, should never be too long, else it 

 is liable to become fouled. On the forward- 

 cast the loop, thus under the guidance and con- 

 trol of the left hand, may be shot out through 

 the guides; such shooting of the line not only 

 adding to the length of the cast with little fuss, 

 but flies so delivered will land gently, especially 

 if the line be retarded ever so slightly at the last 

 moment before the flies drop. In single-handed 

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