104 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



ticiog casting, use the line only, without flies or 

 leader. 



Properly to cast a fly, the forearm and wrist only 

 are used, and, in reality, the upper arm could be 

 fastened to the side without interfering with the 

 work. The first endeavor of an amateur is to try to 

 cast to a distance. Since at first accuracy is of the 

 greatest importance and distance of far less, the for- 

 mer should be practiced only. The effort to throw 

 a line to a distance without knowing how will cause 

 the beginner to use the full strength of his arm and 

 to acquire a habit that will be most difficult to break 

 off, if it can be overcome at all. 



As stated, fly casting is done entirely with the 

 forearm and wrist, and with the expenditure of but 

 little, if any, energy. When once learned it can be 

 kept up for hours without tiring the arm to any 

 extent. The whole secret of expertness is to learn 

 just when, on the throw-back, the line is out per- 

 fectly straight before recovering and making the 

 forward cast. This can not be taught, and can on!}- 

 be learned by careful practice. At last one seems to 

 know instinctively when to recover, and the secret is 

 learned. It is far better to cast twenty or twenty- 

 five feet of line accurately than a far greater length 

 without being able to control the direction absolutely. 

 More fish will be taken generally within thirt}- feet, 



