100 HOW TO CAST A FLY-LINE. 



case may be, its point must be thrown sharply upwards 

 and backwards over the shoulder with a peculiar jerk of 

 the wrist and forearm, which will cause the line to sweep 

 out to its full extent behind the back of the operator, 

 when he must wait for a second or so to allow the line 

 to attain to its full extent before he attempts to cast it 

 forward again (otherwise the end fly will most assuredly 

 be cracked off like the explosion of a small rocket) ; then 

 by a forward movement of the forearm, accompanied by 

 a rather forcible jerk of the wrist, it must be cast forward 

 and against the wind straight across the water ; at the 

 same time, the rod must be again lowered into a horizon- 

 tal position without removing the butt from its place, 

 until the line has again attained its full stretch in a for- 

 ward direction, and before it reaches the water. Just 

 at this instant, when the line has attained its full extent, 

 and the flies remain suspended for a moment immediately 

 over the spot where they are intended to alight, gently 

 elevate both the arm and the rod (but still maintaining 

 it at the same angle with the water), as high as possible ; 

 which manoeuvre will cause the flies to rest on the wind 

 for a second or two, and arrest their too rapid descent 

 upon the water. The flies, by their superior gravity, will, 

 during this rest, naturally assume a position nearest the 

 surface of the water, when both arm and rod, with the 

 tip of the latter still elevated, must be gently lowered, 

 and the flies allowed to dangle for a second or two just 

 above the surface, then delicately eased down upon the 

 water. If there is a moderate breeze, and the cast is 

 managed with ordinary dexterity according to the above 



