FLY FISHING 105 



than over that distance. Occasionally a pool can 

 not be approached closely, and a long line must be 

 thrown, but distance is easily acquired — in fact, it 

 comes naturally in practice. 



The late Reuben Wood, of Syracuse, IST. Y., was 

 without question the finest fly caster of his day, and 

 he always had set rules that his pupils must follow. 

 He invariably tied a beginner's upper arm to his 

 side, making him cast in that way, until, when free, 

 the arm was kept against the side naturally. An- 

 other rule, and a good one, was that for a consider- 

 able length of time he would only allow a line twice 

 the length of the rod to be thrown. A chip of wood 

 was tossed upon the water, and all effort must be 

 made to drop the line over it. Eventually the line 

 was lengthened and casts to a greater distance made, 

 but accuracy must keep pace, and especial attention 

 was paid to dropping the cast lightly upon the water. 



When the line has become straightened out be- 

 hind, the forward cast should be made with a sharp, 

 steady throw of the rod — never with a jerk. The 

 point of the rod naturally drops, and if it is held in 

 this position until the cast strikes the water the 

 leader and flies will generally drop in cii'cular form. 

 To avoid this and have the leader fall gently and in 

 a straight line, the point of the rod should be ele- 

 vated three or four feet just at the moment the east 



