CHAPTER II 



CASTING 



Fly-fishermen often assert that it is impossible to 

 learn to cast from a book. This is to a certain extent 

 true, but the beginner can, if he gives due attention to 

 the subject, get from a book a number of hints which 

 will greatly assist him. It is also said that the best 

 plan is to get a past-master to give instructions and 

 thus educate the embryo fly-fisher. This again is 

 only to a certain extent true. A teacher must certainly 

 understand thoroughly the subject he is teaching, but 

 the greatest experts are often the very worst of 

 teachers. The capacity for imparting knowledge to 

 others is a natural gift just like an ear for music or 

 talent for drawing. A moderate performer who 

 possesses this capacity is a far better teacher than the 

 highest exponent of the art who is without it. It is I 

 believe a recognized principle of modern scholastics that 

 the teacher who seeks to convey his knowledge to others 

 requires very special training to do so successfully. 

 In " Dry - Fly Fishing in Theory and Practice" 

 the following definition of cast- 

 Definition of casting. ing is given : " Casting may 



be defined as placing the fly 

 which is at the end of the collar, in a desired spot, in 



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