32 THE PIKE. 



pressure of the finger on the revolving edge of the reel. 

 First, the rod should be so constructed that it will play well 

 •at the tip end, and be stiff and strong at its lower joints. 

 Some makers and anglers may tell you that it is impossible 

 to cast out a pike bait properly unless you have a very 

 springy rod — one that will bend round, nearly like a fly rod, 

 from the tip down to the handle ; but my experience is that 

 the top itself should bend well, the second joint bend a little 

 towards the thin end of it, while the butt and part of the 

 second joint should be stiff and rigid in the hand. The 

 ■distance and accuracy of the cast is very much improved by 

 having the rod as near to the above requirements as possible. 

 Secondly, the reel itself should run very smoothly ; it should 

 not wobble at all, nor yet " chatter," as we call it, while the 

 bait is travelling to its destination. The back, or fixed part, 

 and the barrel or revolving part should fit close together, so 

 that there is no play or looseness between the nut on end of 

 the spindle, and the brass plate under it. There is more in 

 this than meets the eye of the casual observer, because if 

 the reel chatters and does not run smoothly and well, more 

 force is required in the cast to start the bait upon its jour- 

 ney. When the young pike fisherman selects this article of 

 his outfit, he should carefully take stock of it, see that it is 

 strong and well made, that it has a stout brass cross-back, 

 is fitted up with a good moveable check action, and that the 

 handles on the front are fitted to strong oval plates, screwed 

 firmly to the wood by a screw at each end. These oval 

 plates are a great protection to the handles, as without them, 

 in the constant winding that a pike spinning reel is sub- 

 jected to, they are liable to work loose. 



Having satisfied himself on the above points, the novice 

 should then hold the reel firmly by the back in his left 

 hand, and with his right tap the edge of the revolving part 

 smartly downwards. If it will revolve freely and smoothly 

 without wobble or shake, and feels firm and rigid under the 

 brass nut, and its spindle is not loose and shaky, he has 

 without doubt got a reel that is admirably adapted for throw- 

 ing out and working home a pike bait in this most deadly 

 and easy style ; and I might add that he should not on any 

 consideration give more than eight shillings for it. 



