FLY CASTING. 107 



make the fly fall gently at the shorter distance, before 

 trying to cast far. Even in fishing, accuracy and a light 

 dropping of the fly count for more than distance, but both 

 are points to strive for. When you have learned to cast 

 easily at short distances you can try casting farther, and it 

 is easier learned that way, also less likely to discourage the 

 beginner. 



You need not go fishing in order to learn casting you 

 can learn it out on any smooth, level piece of ground. Se- 

 lect a place where the ground is covered with short grass 

 so that the line will not be injured. Place your hat on the 

 grass, or a newspaper, weighted with little stones on the 

 corners. You don't need a leader or fly, just the bare line> 

 but you can tie some small white object on the end, like 

 a bit of white string, so that you can easily see where the 

 end of the line falls. 



Remember, the rod used has much to do with the cast- 

 ing in a way it is the rod that makes the cast, any- 

 way the rod that has a lively spring no suggestion of 

 weakness or slow action is the one that casts best. A long 

 cast cannot be made with a very light rod, for with a light 

 rod a light line must be used and the combination does not 

 spell distance. The expensive rods are best, but the amateur 

 should not buy an expensive rod to learn casting with ; 

 he can use one after he becomes expert with the cheaper 

 one. The fact that in tournament work, all of the longest 

 casts have been made with split bamboo rods is significant. 



This is the overhead method of casting the fly, and all 

 fly fishers use it more than the other ways but the method 

 is frequently varied by the different fishermen. Some, when 

 they finish the forward cast, straighten out the arm, giv- 

 ing more force to the movement, and some make the com- 

 plete cast by giving the rod a sweeping movement some- 

 what on the line of a horseshoe, making the back-cast over 

 the left shoulder and the forward cast from the right, some- 



