52 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



reproduced from instantaneous photographs taken for 

 the purpose with exposures of 1/800 of a second by 

 Mr. W. A. Rouch, who is considered to be the 

 most successful operator of the day in this class of 

 photography. These reproductions were made from 

 the original negatives, and therefore represent with 

 absolute truth the position of the rod and line. In 

 Plate 1 1 the moment at which the plate was exposed 

 was a fraction of a second too late, but the line is 

 accurately shown, although the rod is just commencing 

 to deflect backwards. 



At the backward position the rod is bent neither 

 forwards nor backwards, which must mathematically 

 prove that, at what may be called the resting-point, 

 the weight of line in front of the rod is exactly 

 counterbalanced by the weight of line behind it. 

 Of course, the line and fly at the end of it are 

 moving backwards, and at once the excess of weight 

 behind will begin to bend the rod backwards, 

 i.e. with the concave side of the curve behind the 

 angler. 



The forward motion or act of casting is then begun, 

 and the rod is brought forward at a very slightly 

 increased pace. There is great danger of the beginner 

 overdoing this increase of pace and making what is 

 sometimes called a fiick, or more or less of a jerk. 

 Such action absolutely ruins the angler's chance of 

 making a good cast ; in fact, the acceleration of the 

 rod as it comes forward is barely perceptible, and the 

 movement throughout should be deliberate and 



