56 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



ward position to the finish when the rod-point is 

 on the water. 



The advice may be summed up in terms very 

 similar to those given to the young golfer learning 

 to drive — but the fly-fisher must not continue the 

 acceleration of the action coming forward like the 

 golfer. The golf professional says, " Slow back, do 

 not press, carry your club through to the finish." 

 The fly-fisherman's mentor says, " Slowly and de- 

 liberately back, a slight pause, a slight (very slight) 

 acceleration of pace when coming forward, no great 

 force at any part of the cast, and carry the forward 

 motion slowly right through to the finish on the sur- 

 face of the stream." There is one other very important 

 difference between the golfer and the fly-fisherman 

 — the golfer is taught to hold his club lightly with 

 his fingers, while the fly-fisher can hardly grip his 

 rod too tightly. 



When you fail to bring off this cast you may, as 

 before remarked, safely infer that your principal faults 

 are casting too quickly, using too much force, and 

 not carrying the rod through to the finish. The 

 stronger the adverse wind the more rapidly the be- 

 ginner casts and the more strength he puts into it. 

 He should do exactly the reverse — the stronger 

 the wind the slower should be the motion, and 

 when once he has succeeded in getting the pace 

 of the rod he will find the force required is very 

 little more against a violent wind than against a 

 light one. 



