SPEYCASTING: A NEW TECHNIQUE. By Hugh Falkus.

1994 1st edition - de luxe issue. 4to (230 x 288mm). Pp256. Illustrated with b/w step-by-step photographs, patterned end-papers. Half dark blue leather over dark blue cloth, raised bands, spine titled in gilt. One (#21) of a special edition of 80 copies with a signed and numbered bookplate.

Falkus's classic work on speycasting. "Some years ago, with the advent of the modern two-handed carbon-fibre rod, Hugh Falkus realised that the technique of speycasting had not moved with the times... Compared with the mighty greenheart or cane rods wielded by our grandfathers, it seemed obvious that today's rods could be used in a vastly more effective way, making Speycasting much easier, more accurate and much less tiring. ...It is his new technique that Hugh Falkus describes in this book. As his many pupils have proved conclusively over recent years, mastery of his methods ...will lengthen an angler's casting distance, improve his ability to fish awkward places both with floating and sinking lines, and undoubtedly increase his or her chances of catching a fish." Chapters include: Rods and lines; The roll cast; The reverse roll cast; Casting aids; The double Spey cast; The reverse double Spey cast; The single Spey cast; The reverse single Spey cast; Sunk line Spey casting; The Contrived Loop; Under the trees; Casting off left shoulder; Reels and reel belts; Two-way fishing; Single-handed Spey casting; Water safety. In the last chapter, Falkus shows how to recover safely and with nonchalance from falling in whilst wearing waders, with a series of photographs showing it actually done.