fly and bait casting

The Principles and Practice of Fly and Bait Casting, by Reginald D. Hughes is an excellent book published by A & C Black in 1924. As usual I'm going to quote from a few pages:

Style is synonymous with efficiency.

Excessive effort is not only uncalled for, but if practised defeats itself.

To get a really good cast extreme smoothness and ease are essential.

Be content with 12 or 14 yards of line until thoroughly master of that amount, and then lengthen it out by degrees.

The lift of the line is steady and must be entirely devoid of the least tendency to a flip or a cast.

It is necessary that throughout the cast the line is kept alive - i.e., that the whole motion is continuous.

The second need is for a taut line during the making of the cast. If the line is allowed to slacken in the least, even momentarily, the pull on it is lost.

Hold or grip of the rod - there should be none. The rod merely rests in the right hand, while the left hand lightly encircles the butt end.

Both hands must do an equal share of the work.

In learning these casts try and avoid too much concentration, as the great secret is to let the whole body be free and swing easily and comfortably, letting the rod do it, and it will do it if the timing is right.

The extreme back position should be the highest point of the rod's course.

From the very commencement of casting, try not to use the elbow-joint at all.

I think the difficulties and uncertainties are of the very essence of true sport.