UNDERHAND CAST FIG. 3 
THE DOWNWARD CUT 
indeed I know few who practice 
it because of a continued failure 
to place the fly exactly right, being 
satisfied to use the underhand cast 
instead. Yet the “cut” is invaluable 
under conditions so often met on the 
stream, viz., a sharp wind directly 
against making a cast to a favorable 
spot. With patience, the knack of this 
cut is mastered and should always be 
tried when the wind and situation re¬ 
quire such a cast. 
To throw the fly, raise the arm to 
an angle of 45 degrees with the water- 
level and extend it full- 
length forward, turn the 
knuckles down and a pull¬ 
ing circular cut in towards 
the body while the line is 
being delivered, and the 
rod-tip pointing down to 
the level of the water with 
the elbow slightly elevated. 
The illustration will prob¬ 
ably show this peculiar 
cast, better than the de¬ 
scription which is harder 
to define than to perform. 
If proper time and strength 
are used, the line goes out 
straight against the wind. 
The back motion of the cast 
I is made with the left hand 
on the reel line pulling the 
slack away. If the “cut” 
is made too heavy or quick, the line 
is blown back. If not quick enough, 
then the fly splashes on the surface. 
The “cut” is what I call a fancy cast, 
though invaluable, the angler can 
satisfy himself with the underhand 
cast. 
The cut of each style speaks for it¬ 
self and needs no description. Those 
readers familiar with Mr. Halford’s 
admirable illustrations in “Dry-fly fish¬ 
ing” must remember they show the 
line only—not the leader. The reason 
given is that 150th part of a second 
was not rapid enough to take the fine 
gut on his plates and he preferred to 
leave it so. In the thirty years in¬ 
terval, photography has more than 
tripled film speed, so that the illustra¬ 
tions in this volume show the exact line 
of gut leader in every instance with 
the author actually fishing on the 
stream. 
The basic principles of all these 
styles of casting apply equally to dry- 
fly as to wet-fly casting, and if the 
angler pays strict attention to correct 
timing, exactly the right force, he will 
soon learn how to cast well. His at¬ 
titude, movement of body should be 
calm and slow; the back cast in partic¬ 
ular should have ample time to allow 
the line curve to have full play before 
the return, or forward cast. 
Drying the fly is merely repeated 
action of the forward cast with com¬ 
paratively short line without touching 
the water, an act which can be con¬ 
tinued indefinitely. 
Cocking the fly—that is, to place it 
on the surface with wings upright, is 
very essential to the dry cast, and it 
only works properly when the rod-tip 
is checked to the right time and force. 
Drifting the fly—in dry fishing, is 
only correctly performed by an exact 
judgment of the length of the line to 
reach well in front of the fish for the 
fly to float down over it without drag. 
Very often drifting comes natural in 
the cast without effort to do it, but 
cross-currents too often make the fly go 
whirling to undesirable places. 
SONNY BOY FISHING 
CONTEST 
In the May number of Forest and 
Stream we announced a fishing contest 
open to all boys under eighteen years 
of age. Already many have entered. 
Many more have expressed 
a desire to do so. They all 
want to learn to cast. Don’t 
let your boy splash around 
with an old cane pole, a bob¬ 
ber and worm; get him a 
modern rod, reel and arti¬ 
ficial lure. Take him into 
your confidence. Teach him 
how to cast. 
The series of articles now 
running in Forest and 
Stream by Louis Rhead, 
the distinguished author, 
artist and naturalist, are 
the very essence of the art 
of casting. They are clear¬ 
ly written and beautifully 
illustrated. Read these ar¬ 
ticles with your boy. Study 
the illustrations, step by 
step. Insist upon his mastering the 
theory of the art and then take him out 
on the stream with you. 
Encourage your boy to enter the 
Sunny Boy Fishing Contest. He may 
win a prize or he may not, but in any 
event he will go fishing with a new zest 
for he will know that he is in a contest. 
Let him fill out his own affidavit. Let 
him enter his own fish. Watch the 
intense eagerness with which he waits 
to see if he is the winner. Encourage 
him in every way you can and see how 
he strives to imitate Dad which will 
more than repay you for all the time 
and trouble that you may give him. 
11 -A, 
THE switch fig. 2 
Page 299 
