The Art of Modern Bait Casting. 



89 



Fig. S. — Casting to the Right. 



lines of that description harm their cast- 

 ing and spooling qualities. In spooling 

 the line special attention should be paid 

 not to overlap, as disastrous results will 

 surely follow. Consequently, when re- 

 trieving the line, grasp the rod with the 

 fingers directly under the reel, allowing 

 the upper rim of the reel to nestle in the 

 palm of the hand, and use the thumb to 

 lay the line on the reel spool, and never 

 attempt a cast with the line spooled im- 

 perfectly. By a little practice the line 

 can be laid perfectly and very rapidly , 

 Thumbing the line in casting is a fea- 

 ture that must never be belittled, and 

 under no circumstances should the 

 angler make a cast without gently drag- 

 ging the line with his thumb while pay- 

 ing off the reel spool. 



The reel in bait-casting belongs on 

 the top or upper side of the rod, and not 

 on the lower side, as in fly-casting. This 

 arrangement simplifies the matter of 

 controlling the line with the thumb. 

 The angler by being particular when 

 making his initial attempts at thumbing 

 the reel will soon do it instinctively, and 



when acquired is done imthinkingly, as 

 the mind in this sport should not be on 

 the reel, but have other matters of 

 pleasing importance to occupy it. 

 Thumbing the line as it pays off the 

 reel, and spooling it perfectly in retriev- 

 ing it, should never be neglected ; this 

 rule must always be followed in order 

 to insure good results. 



Baits that can be used in this sport 

 are practically unlimited, as any bait 

 ever known to have been taken b}^ a 

 fish can be utilized. If fishing for bass, 

 a No. 4^ Skinner spoon is o!ie of the 

 best killing baits that can be used. A 

 specially constructed spoon with a 

 hinged device, which allows the spoon 

 to lay back against the line in making 

 a cast, thereby offering no air resistance, 

 was manufactured by Skinner, last sea- 

 son, at the suggestion of a friend of 

 mine and myself, which proved entirely 

 practical. The phantom and quill min- 

 nows are also allures worthy of the bait- 

 caster's attention. The invincible live 

 minnow and the deludinsf influences of 



c^\ 



Fig. 6. — Casting to the Left. 



