GLOSSARY OF FISHING TERMS 



High guide. High guides are beheved to add uniform 

 strength and make for better balance, for the Hne is not close to 

 the rod tip. 



Roller guides. Guides on rollers. 



Reel sizes. All reels that do not have definite names are made 

 in sizes i/o, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 6/0, 9/0, lo/o, 12/0, 14/0, 15/0, and 

 1 6/0. This numbering system was introduced many years ago by 

 the oldest American reel manufacturer, with the idea of desig- 

 nating their Une capacity; the "o" is supposed originally to have 

 meant "ocean." Today the two numbers tell you nothing except 

 the relative size of the reel (since any size naturally will carry 

 more yards of smaller Hne and less of larger). The only excep- 

 tions are the reels made by a leading British manufacturer, which 

 are called six-inch, eight-inch, etc., according to the size of the 

 reel plates. 



Cradle reel. Cradle reels are now practically out of use. The 

 idea was to have the rod ferrule enter the butt ferrule on top of 

 the reel, with the butt attached to the reel directly in its center. 

 This idea was supposed to create better balance, but it really 

 only increased the weight. 



Star. The star is the wheel (sometimes called the pilot wheel) 

 which controls the drag or tension applied to the line. 



Drag. Tension put on the reel by the use of the star, to keep 

 the fish from running off too much of the line. 



Throw-oflf lever. This is the lever which is used to throw the 

 reel into free spool. 



Backlash. A backlash usually comes from a hard strike at the 

 bait when the reel is on free spool, or with a very light drag. It 

 is the result of the quick pull taking the line off the reel so rapidly 

 that the spool overruns, and the line backlashes on the reel, or 

 in other words, becomes tangled. Overrun a fast turn or two. 



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