Salmon-fishing — Casting the Fly. 115 



CHAPTER VI. 

 S.iLMON-FISHING-CASTING THE FLY. 



The suggestion of salmon-fisliing to a trout-fisherman 

 inexperienced therein, at once raises the doubt in his 

 mind whether he will be able to cast efficiently with a 

 salmon-rod without long preliminary practice; and his 

 very first question is usually designed to relieve his mind 

 on this point. 



My answer to this question has been, that he who can 

 cast with a single-handed trout-rod, will be able to cast 

 equally well with a double-handed salmon-rod with little 

 if any more special practice than would be required to 

 pass for the first time from the use of a five-ounce to 

 that of a nine-ounce rod. 



Some of the books contain diagrams showing the path 

 to be described in the air by the tip of the rod and other 

 like matters, intended to instruct the beginner in the 

 art of casting with the salmon-rod. Though accustomed 

 to reading mechanical drawings and interpreting descrip- 

 tive matter relating to them, these diagrams were to 

 me a source of doubt and uncertainty. Exactly what 

 was their purpose I could not determine to my own 

 satisfaction. It was only after experience had illumined 

 the question that I found it could have well been para- 

 phrased thus — so handle your rod on the back-east that 

 the fly shall not strike the rod in its backward flight. 



