62 LOCH-FISHING. 



Next conies a most important part of the outfit, 

 the reel, which should balance the rod. The best 

 reel is an easy-going ratchet, with the spring 

 just sufficiently strong to prevent the line over- . 

 running. Most ratchets are much too stiff, and 

 if a heavy fish is hooked on fine tackle with one 

 of these, it is almost a hopeless case ; there are 

 probably more fish and tackle lost by a stiff- 

 running reel than by any other cause the loch 

 angler has to contend with. 



The fishing-book should consist of two parts, 

 the one composed of large pockets for made-up 

 casting-lines, and the other constructed in the 

 ordinary manner for holding flies. 



A landing-net is a necessity while angling from 

 a boat. It should be 2 feet deep, the circumfer- 

 ence of the ring 3 \ feet, and the handle 4 feet long. 



Of casting, which has already been described 

 in the chapter on river-fishing, we shall say little, 

 simply noting that it is necessary to cast in the 

 same direction as the boat is drifting, viz. with 

 the wind. It should be borne in mind that it is 

 much better to cast lightly and straight, 6 or 8 

 yards (which in most cases from a boat is quite 

 sufficient) than 12 or 14 yards, that go down on 

 the water zig-zag, leaving the line so loose that a 

 fish rising cannot be hooked. If there be only 

 one angler fishing from a boat he should try and 

 cover as much water as possible by casting first 



