MINNOW FISHING 93 



with very little idea of its being properly presented. 

 The modern method appears to require but little skill, 

 knowledge or ingenuity, and it is by a long way the 

 nearest approach to " chuck and chance it '* of any 

 of the methods of fishing described. 



The long-distance casting reel has its uses, but in 

 minnow fishing, as in aU other branches of angling, 

 the man must adapt himself to circumstances, and if 

 he does so he will find that it is not always necessary 

 to throw a long way. 



Out of all the reels on the market it would be pre- 

 sumptuous to say that such and such a reel is best. 

 Each has its advocates, and while one man will swear 

 by a certain make, the next may swear at it. 



The rod should be short, 8 ft. 6 ins. or 9 feet, 

 and fairly stiff, though not too stiff. If a preference 

 may be expressed, it is for a rod that just gives sHghtly 

 as a minnow is drawn across the current, and for light 

 spinning the split-cane fly rod frequently serves 

 very well. 



The line to use with the majority of reels is made 

 of fine waterproof silk, as it does not kink so readily 

 as an undressed one, but there are certain reels on 

 the market with which it is an absolute necessity to 

 use undressed Unes, and for many it is claimed that 

 their mechanism can be so adjusted as to do away 

 entirely with kinking. 



Out of the many varieties of mount for the natural 



