234 SALMON AND TROUT. 
purpose. The upper portion, instead of being straight, is made 
in a curve, and, when fishing, the curve faces the stream, which 
gives a rod made in this fashion a greater lifting power than an 
ordinary one, but I have always found I could make as good a 
cast with the latter. 
I have made these few remarks upon the ‘Spey cast’ as it is 
my favourite, although I find other methods useful at times. 
To learn how to cast underhand can only be acquired by 
practice, and in the course of an angler’s experience he will 
have every opportunity of becoming proficient in this branch 
of the art. 
HOW TO WORK A FLY. 
There are differences of opinion as to how a fly should be 
worked. Some fishermen shake their rod so as to make it saw 
the water, as it were, but this method adds greatly to the fatigue 
of fishing, and is, moreover, in my opinion, labour in vain. I 
watched upon one occasion a man working his rod in this 
fashion. He had outa pretty long line, and when his fly came 
round close to the bank where I was standing I could see what 
the effect was. I was rather surprised to see there was no 
motion given to the fly more than that which was caused by the 
action of the stream. The fact was the action of the point of 
the rod did not affect the line at the distance at which the fly 
was working. I have no doubt that when fishing with a short 
length of line, shaking the point of the rod would give the de- 
sired motion to the fly, although I maintain that in a stream 
it is quite unnecessary to work a fly at all, the action of the 
water being quite sufficient to give it a lifelike appearance. 
I learnt a lesson when fishing with a cross line where flies 
are sometimes almost stationary, and I feel certain anyone who 
has seen the glorious rises which salmon make at flies on a cross 
line would never think it necessary to work or shake his fly. 
The method of working the fly in this fashion is generally 
adopted by all professionals and many amateurs on the Irish 
