412 LEARNING TO CAST 



somewhat apart, as I have described, and the toes 

 shghtly turned in, the position such that it is easily 

 possible to look back over the right shoulder at the 

 line, and ascertain when it reaches its full extent. 

 After a few casts have been made, the time which it 

 is necessary to allow for the line to extend itself is 

 soon learned, and so, by degrees, the necessary swing 

 of the rod, whether the line be shortened or materially 

 lengthened, will be acquired, and It must be remem- 

 bered that, unless the line is allowed to go back its 

 entire length, the forward cast will be a failure. The 

 above plan is my own, and I have found it by far the 

 quickest and simplest way of instructing a beginner, 

 and after a time it becomes unnecessary to look back. 

 In turning to see the fly behind, the body must not 

 be moved more than can be avoided, or otherwise the 

 rod will swing too far back over the shoulder, and it 

 will be impossible to see the cast, which will be too 

 far round towards the left rear. In casting, the rod 

 must not be permitted to come too near to the shoulder 

 in the backward motion, but be kept away from it at 

 an angle of about 45°, so that the eye can readily 

 discern when the line is taut behind, in order that it 

 may be at once returned forward. The movement 

 should not be directly a backward and forward one, 

 but the point of the rod should rather describe a small 

 circle or wave in the air. This will serve to prevent 

 the line getting foul in a wind. The top of the rod 

 only should be circled. By this plan I have many a 

 time avoided smashing my rod when I have been 

 standing in a place where the wind was high on the 

 bank above me, though I myself have been completely 

 sheltered ; whereas, if the line were cast straight up 



