CASTING 57 



The length of the gut cast should vary according to 



the direction and force of the 



Length of the gut cast. wind. During a dead calm it 



should measure not less than 

 3^ yards ; with a strong following wind it should be I 

 increased say to 4 yards, or even a trifle more ; with ' 

 a moderate head-wind it may have to be shortened to 

 3 yards, and in a very strong one even to 2^ yards. 1 

 Under no conditions should the dry-fly man work 

 with a shorter cast than 2^ yards ; as if he does 

 his fly will inevitably land on the water with a splash, 

 probably scaring the fish to which he is casting. It 

 may be laid down that, the greater the length of the 

 gut cast that a fisherman can manage, the lighter will 

 his fly fall on the water, and the more likely will he be 

 to succeed. 



The horizontal cast is exactly similar in action to 

 the overhanded one, but the 

 The horizontal cast. rod is held and moved horizon- 

 tally instead of vertically. 

 The position of the rod and line and appearance of 

 the line at the backward position of a horizontal cast 

 are shown in Plate VI, and at the forward position in 

 Plate VII. All the instructions and hints given, in 

 reference to the ordinary overhanded cast, apply equally 

 to the horizontal cast. The beginner will find that his 

 hand and forearm are cramped at first, this being due 

 to a set of muscles being brought into play which are 

 seldom used for any other exercise, but practice and 

 perseverance will in time get over this. 



