9° 



The American Angler 



the live frog, when delicately dropped 

 from a distance of about one hundred 

 feet by the skillful bait-caster in the 

 immediate vicinity of a game fish, are 

 too well known to need any explana- 

 tions or comments. It will therefore 

 certainly be admitted that the bait- 

 caster is not limited in the item of bait- 

 Any bait, whether artificial or natu- 

 ral, that shows a tendency to kink or 

 twist the line in retrieving, should be 

 overcome by the use of swivels, as a 

 kinked line will not cast properly and 

 and will lead one into the most annoying 

 complications. 



Any good hollow point hook is desira- 

 ble in this sport, the snelled gut hook 

 probably taking precedence. 



The methods of bait-casting, when 

 understood and practiced with proper 

 tackle, are very simple and easy of ac- 

 complishment. 



The rod, reel, and line, together with 

 a compact landing net, make up the 

 main features of the outfit. The land- 

 ing net should be fitted with a twenty- 

 four inch minnow dip net, which can be 

 used in catching frogs, as well as in 

 landing the fish. A small variety of 

 spoons, phantom and qtiill minnows, a 

 few hooks, swivels, connecting links and 

 split shot, make up the balance of this 

 very compact and interesting outfit. 



There are in casting the bait three 

 styles, known as the left to right, right 

 to left, and forward cast. After master- 

 ing these, the other details that may be 

 necessary in casting can easily be learn- 

 ed. In starting the right to left cast, 

 the tip of the rod should be held well 

 up, and the angler should rely on the 

 spring of the rod to quietly and deli- 

 cately throw the bait. This spring can 

 be produced by a slight movement of 

 the forearm and wrist only. Arm force 

 does not aid the bait-caster with a rod 

 designed to properly cast a bait, but 



detracts from the work the rod is sup- 

 posed to perform. 



The rod in the cast is held at a side 

 angle of about 45 ^'j with the elbow 

 nearly touching the body. As the rod 

 and bait rise on the first of the circle, 

 make sure to take advantage of the up- 

 ward spring of the rod and let the bait 

 go, for by holding onto the line until 

 the tip of the rod has reached the 45" 

 angle on the opposite side, the bait will 

 be thrown down instead of up and for- 

 ward. Particular attention must be 

 paid to this point, as it has proven the 

 stumbling block to many tyros in the 

 art. 



The left to right cast may seem more 

 difficult to master, but there is much of 

 fancy in this, for again the well con- 

 structed rod helps out. The same prin- 

 ciple is used as in the right to left cast, 

 the only difference being a back hand 

 motion. The forward cast is used more 

 in wading than from a boat, and the 

 bait is started from the rear, with the 

 rod pointing over the shoulder at the 

 same angle as is used in the other two 

 casts. 



Casting should be practiced \vith the 

 left as well as the right hand, and 

 anglers will find it a very desirable ac- 

 quisition, as one rests the other ; fur- 

 thermore, being able to cast with the 

 right and reel with the left, or vice 

 versa, greatly assists the angler, as the 

 rod does not have to be changed from 

 hand to hand in retrieving the line. 

 When casting from a boat never stand 

 up, as it establishes a bad precedent and 

 exposes one to the quick perceptions of 

 game fish. 



Taken as a whole, this scientific 

 method of taking game fish becomes a 

 most delightful auxiliary to an outing, 

 and is in every respect \vorth5^ the ex- 

 alted position it now holds among the 

 many devotees of the true art of modern 

 angling. 



