CHAPTER X. 



FISHING-REELS. 



And to that end, some use a wheel about the middle of the rod, or near 

 their hand ; which is to be observed better by seeing one of them, tlian by a 

 large demonstration of words."— Izaak Walton. 



A FISHING-REEL is made in accordance Avith the special 

 service required of it, the objects of said service being 

 twofold. The first and most important is the proper 

 delivery of the bait in a manner and at a distance com- 

 mensurate with the mode of fishing ; and the second is to 

 play and land the fish after he is hooked, or to reel the 

 line for another cast. The reel which practically fulfills 

 these conditions with the greatest ease and facility — in the 

 method of fishing practiced — is the best reel to use. 



The two modes of angling in which the reel is em- 

 ployed are bait-fishing and fly-fishing, and as the two 

 methods differ so essentially, they require reels of widely 

 different functions. Thus in bait-fishing the multiplying 

 reel is used, while in fly-fishing the click-reel is indis- 

 pensable. 



The multiplying reel must be very rapid in its action so 

 as to deliver the bait as far as possible at a single cast, the 

 thumb, meanwhile, controlling the rapid rendering of the 

 line, so as to prevent back-lashing of the spool ; but in 

 fly-fishing the line is lengthened gradually, a few feet 



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