THE WELSH, OR SPEY THROW. 1 79 



and this aptitude was as remarkably exemplified, for 

 a limited distance, in his use of the rod. Bosworth 

 originated the Coachman Fly,* so much appreciated 

 for night-fishing. 



The cast most useful in boisterous weather is the 

 Welsh or Spey Throw. This is more commonly 

 known to fly-fishers for salmon. The line is whisked 

 off the water by an upward and backward movement 

 of the rod, but is delivered forward again just as the 

 last of the reel-line leaves the top of the water, by a 

 rapid lower whisk of the rod's upper portion. This 

 raises the line above all impediments and encumb- 

 rances in the shape of bushes, etc., fringing the river's 

 bank. Personally we make our longest cast by it.f 

 The usually-deemed impregnable positions of the 

 most choice and best fed fish are brought under fire 

 by a resort to this cast, as indeed are all fish out of 

 the reach of the usual run of rodsters. Some fly-fishers 

 appear never to aspire to a greater distance than the 

 width of the stream or brook most fished by them. For 

 mountain or moorland stream, Scottish beck and 

 burn, and Welsh torrent this may answer amply, but 

 upon the comparatively wide and open water some- 

 thing further and more extensive is needed. Every 

 fly-fisher should be able to cast at least 20 yards of 

 reel-line. The importance of artistically getting out 

 the lure is fully recognised in districts where the 



* This artificial has recently been much used as a "fancy" fly for 

 day-fishing, and with considerable success. 



t We never threw with a single-handed fly-rod more than 29^ yards, 

 but with the Acme Wire -line we have been able to exceed this distance 

 by some three yards. 



