CASTING 



and perhaps this term has some effect on their 

 actions. They try to throw the fly as they would 

 a stone and are surprised not to see it go far out. 

 A fly is a very light object and cannot be thrown 

 any very long distance. The reason that it goes 

 long distances when cast, is that the rod imparts 

 energy to the line, fly, and leader— all three. 

 When the rod is stopped in its forward motion 

 this energy must go somewhere and it gradually 

 unwinds the line in the air, as each portion of the 

 line comes to rest until it comes to the leader and 

 fly. The fly is propelled far off by energy carried 

 by the line and leader and not by its own velocity 

 alone. It is evident that the line and leader 

 must get their energy when the rod is moved for- 

 ward. If they are to get it without loss and all 

 the rod can give, the line must be straight back 

 of the rod and not in a curl or loop. To get it 

 straight and not have the fly or leader touch 

 behind the caster the line must be cast high above 

 the head and not down behind toward the water. 

 In order to do this the motion of the rod must be 

 stopped when it is about vertical as the tip even 

 then will bend backward and tend to throw the 

 line down behind. The hardest thing to learn in 

 casting is not to put the rod too far back. This 



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