io LAKE AND STREAM GAME FISHING 



much as possible, as it saves friction on the guides 

 and makes your line last longer, as well as increases 

 the distance of your cast. 



REEL LINE IN SMOOTHLY 



You have now made your first cast, and upon how 

 carefully you reel in your line depends the success 

 or failure of your next cast. Shift the rod to the 

 left hand, grasping it above the reel and circling it 

 from the underside, with the line between the fore- 

 finger and the thumb which guide the line across the 

 spool of the reel and back again until it is all reeled 

 in. Don't let it pile up on the ends of the spool, 

 which it has an ornery habit of doing, or build up 

 into a hump in the middle. If you do, you can 

 check off the next cast as a dead one. 



Try to reel it in as level as possible. Of course 

 when actually fishing you will always watch your 

 bait while reeling in the line, especially when you 

 are casting among lily pads and windfalls, but in the 

 practice work watch the reel. This will save you 

 lots of time and fish later. After a little practice 

 you can watch the plug, remembering not to slow up 

 the thumb and finger in guiding the line smoothly 

 onto the reel, or it will pile up before you know it 

 and bring back your old friend, Mr. G. W. Back- 

 Lash, Esq. 



After you have made a few casts, Old Man, you 

 will begin to notice the target, and how near you 



