The sun., 1919-02-16
WANT TO TAKE UP
FLY FISHING NOW?
Not Necessary to Wait Until
the Trout Season Opens
in Spring.
ADVICE TO TYRO ANGLER
~ yIRGINIUs.

Tho tyro who wishes to take up ny
sshng must not wait until he steps into
The stream to learn how to cast, for
when actually fishing he will not be able
90 give casting. as such, all the attention
Il needs; his faculties being rather more
set on watching for the rise aud seeking
the places whore trout lie. Therefore
either the lawn or any other open spot,
II over the water so much the better
must DO the site Of his initial prepara-
tons.
Let him set up his tackle on the
chosen ground. and, with some easily
seen fly, whose barb has been removed,
attached directly to the end Of his line,
strip off about ten feet Of line from the
reel ....
BY waving the rod TO and fro with the
right hand and drawing more line from
the reel with his left he can slowly
work out about fifteep or twenty feet Of
line. He must not be too ambitious as
10 the length Of his line at first: he will
find sufficient difficulty In getting out
fifteen feet, unless he times the back
ward and forward movements OF his rod
go that the line straightens out to almost
its full length before him and behind
him. ..
This timing. which necessitates a
pause in the movement of tho rod, Is
the secret Of casting, or rather one OF
the secrets. BY throwing the line back
ward and forward until he succeeds in
getting the correct rhythm to do the
trick cleanly. our tyro will have made q
long step forward in casting.
Clean Casting Essential.
The above is not the usual method for
beginning, but as clean casting is so de-
pendent upon proper rhythm, or the tim
ing Of the pause, II would seem that ac-
curing this at once. to the exclusion for
tho time being OF the other features Of
the cast would be wise proceeding.
Therefore let the tyro thoroughly mas
ter this rhythm of throwing his line
backward and forward. In doing this
he will find that the easiest way is as
follows: The rod should be manipulated
by movement of the wrist and fore
arm only, most surely accomplished by
holding the elbow tight against the body.
The rod should swing through an arc
Of about 30 degrees: that Is, about is
degrees each way from the perpendicu-
lar: the rod tip will be carried through
q somewhat greater arc than this by the
weight Of the line. II the rod Is swung
too far from the perpendicular II will
result In letting the limo fall to the
ground 1t is very probable that by this
time our tyro will have discovered that
the correct way TO hold the butt OF tho
rod Is with his thumb extended along
the top Of the rod besides being less cir.
ing, this hold Is the only one which will
give any degree Of accuracy In placing
the fly. t.
False Forward ana hack Casts.
Let us suppose that our student has
thoroughly mastered the pause and
Fythm OF casting the line back and forth
every time la throws the lima I'm ri wa I'd
and forward he has. by the way, made
what Ia called a false cast, often re-
ferred to by dry fly fishermen.
Now when his line has stretched out
straight before him. instead Of throwing
It back as before, he may let 1t fall
IN front of him on the ground-or water
BY so doing. he has completed the for
ward cast. The line must fall lightly.
and positively In u straight line.
Now, with his left hand let him grasp
the line between the reel and the first
guide; he should always maintain this
hold on the line when fishing. BY draw
ing the line back through the guides
quickly he will lift 1t somewhat from
the water. At almost the same instant
he lifts his rod smartly and the line is
carried over his head and out back OF
him, as when he was making false casts.
Thus he completes the back cast.
Executing the pause with which he Is
slready familiar. he brings his rod for
ward until il makes an angle of As de-
grees with the water. and again allows
the line to drop to the surface as II
rolls out straight in the air before him,
and 80 completes another forward cast.
lis will very soon discover that II Ii
3ust as important to have the line
straight out before him on the water
before beginning a back cast, as IL is for
him to have Il straighten out In the air
behind him Pulling the line In with
his left hand just as he lifts his rod
tends to straighten out any small curves.
He will also find that In beginning a
forward cast 1t is quite necessary 70 hold
the line with his left hand II he al
Ions 1t to run out through the guides
even little. 1t will take the life out OF
the forward cast. -.
shooting the Line"
Let us now suppose that he wishes to
isngtNan his line somewhat. He grasps
the lre with his left hand close to the
reel this Is best done just as he starts
the back cast. An instant before the
line starts to fall to the water In front
Of him he moves quickly his left hand
up toward the lower guide, thus allow
ing the extra line to be carried through
tho guides by the weight and momen-
tum OF the liRe.
This movement of the left hand must
be OF the same speed as that OF the line
running through the guides. A very
little practice will be sufficient to this
trick, which Is called shooting the
line"
II Is often advised that the rod be
brought up pointing somewhat to the
left, and just clearing the right side OF
the head in making the back cast; also
that It be slightly tipped to the right In
making the forward cast. And others
advise forming q figure eight In casting
nsver found either of these two ma
r9uvres necessary--in fact, consider
that they interfere with the proper han
ding Of the line by the lefs hand. Our
tyro will find that II he moves the rod
forward slowly and very little just be-
fore the line is Strengthened out In the
cir behind him, he will feel the line
pull, and win have already the power OF
his rod for the proper delivery OF the
cast
On the Stream.
Now let US consider that the trout sea
%n has opened and venture forth II
search OF sport on the stream. In place
oi safety fiy' attached TO the end oil
hs line our beginnar will fasten . 81,
100, leader. with fly Topped to IT.
further end.
Let him deliver n moderate cast either
up Or down stream and across the cur