88 



TJic Anierican Ans:ler 



Time was when the rod-makers could 

 not be induced to make a bait-casting 

 rod less than eight feet three inches in 

 length, claiming that in constructing a 

 rod of shorter length the strength, dura- 

 bility and action would be sacrificed. 

 Not so at present, however, for of neces- 

 sity (at least in the west), the six or six 

 and one-half foot rod has come into 

 general use among the expert casters, 

 and has proven beyond dispute that the 

 old timers were wrong. 



A very desirable rod of this length is 

 now in use (specifications by a Chi- 

 cagoan, and manufactured by Devine, 

 Utica, N. Y.,) made of Bethabara wood, 

 with shortened and double thick Ger- 

 man silver ferrules and shortened reel 

 seat, thus throwing all the wood con- 

 struction possible into the rod. A rod 

 of this character, being so short and 

 weighing hardly five ounces, can be 

 handled at any angle desired and in the 

 most complicated surroundings. 



I have a rod of this wood weighing 

 four and one-half ounces, six feet four 

 inches in length, and have tested it in 

 many stubborn fights with game fish to 

 its utmost capacity, and it has won my 

 entire confidence and admiration. It is 

 invincible, and I should not care to ad- 

 mit that it divides honors with any 

 other wood that grows. 



Regarding the reel, too much care 

 cannot be exercised in the selection of 

 this implement of the bait-caster's out- 

 fit, if delicacy, accuracy and distance 

 are to be considered in casting light 

 baits. The old style multiplier has been 

 superceded by the quadruple compensa- 

 tor, and it is conceded by experts to be 

 the only desirable reel to use. 



No ordinary reel has the power or 

 strength necessary to withstand the 

 enormous task which the bait-caster's 

 reel is called upon to perform in casting 

 and retrieving the bait, and, like the rod, 



it must be especially adapted for its 

 purpose. 



The best reel has steel pivot (conical- 

 shaped) bearings, which reduce the 

 friction to a minimum, a thumb screw 

 adjustment making it possible for the 

 reel to be adjusted so it will revolve 

 quietly, rim smoothly, and start with 

 the slightest effort. A screw driver and 

 a small can of oil should always be in- 

 cluded in the kit, and the reel oiled not 

 less than once a day. A forty-yard reel 

 is the best size to mate with the rod de- 

 scribed, being light in weight, lightness 

 of tackle being the chief object of the 

 expert angler. The check and drag 

 with which most reels are provided 

 should never be utilized in making a 

 cast, the thumb being the cardinal 

 feature of success in this sport. The 

 check, if on the rear plate, is a practical 

 idea to prevent the reel from revolving 

 when not in use. The drag in bait- 

 casting should be an unknown quantity, 

 as its iise, if persisted in, will ruin any 

 bait-casting reel manufactured. I have 

 removed the drags from my reels, be- 

 lieving them to be not only nonsensical, 

 but a detriment that should be abol- 

 ished. 



As with the rod and reel, the line that 

 is desirable for this sport has a separate 

 individuality which adapts it to the re- 

 quirements of the caster. The main 

 feature of its manufacture is being 

 braided nearly square, and becoming 

 perfectly round in use instead of flat, 

 the last named being the worst feature 

 with most braided silk lines when used 

 for casting. A line with a breaking 

 tension of six pounds is sufficiently 

 heavy to compete with the heaviest of 

 fish if properly handled, for the finer 

 the line the better it will cast when 

 using a light bait. Under no circum- 

 stances should the bait-casting line have 

 an enamelled or waterproof dressing, as 



