. CASTING 53 



uniform. Plate III shows the position of the rod 

 and line as the rod is coming forwards to make the 

 cast. 



When casting down-wind this forward action is 

 continued until the rod and line are in the position 

 shown in Plate IV, and the rod is then perceptibly- 

 checked by tightening the grip slightly. This, again, 

 is an action capable of extreme exaggeration, and any- 

 thing like a sudden spasmodic tightening of the grip 

 will ruin the best cast and bring the line on the water 

 all of a heap and often with a perceptible splash. 

 After the rod is in the forward position the line should 

 gradually coil over forwards and deliver the fly in the 

 desired direction, and it should land like the pro- 

 verbial thistledown lightly on the very spot where it 

 was intended to place it. This is the method of 

 casting with a following wind. 



There are diversities of style in casting. Some, 



and these, I venture to sug- 



Style of casting. gest, the best of performers, 



do practically all the work 

 with the wrist. Exceptionally when making an 

 extra long cast they raise the whole of the arm well 

 above the shoulder, but still use only the wrist in 

 moving the rod. Raising the line high up behind 

 in this way is called the steeple cast, and is useful 

 not only for casting very long distances, but also for 

 lifting the fly in the return above low bushes or 

 other impediments behind the angler. 



Some few fishermen cast with an almost stiff" wrist 



