CASTING THE SPINNING BAIT. 69 



the vent of the bait, and brought out at its mouth, and the 

 triangle drawn up to the vent. If the sand-eel is used, it 

 may be placed on two hooks (Fig. 51), or on the Chapman 

 Spinner (Figs. 49, 50). If on the former tackle, the point 

 of the lower hook is put in at the mouth, and carried down 

 until the mouth of the bait touches the upper hook. The 

 lower hook is then brought out through the belly of the fish, 

 and the upper hook is put through its lips. If the lower 

 hook is made with a long shank, which has been softened 

 by heating in a flame, and then bent slightly, a twist will 

 be given to the body of the bait, which will spin. 



The method of using this tackle is very similar to that 

 employed in spinning for jack in fresh water. The angler 

 takes his stand as near the fish as he can get, lets the trace 

 and bait hang loosely from the point of the rod, which he 

 holds in his right hand, resting the butt against his hip. 

 Then he uncoils some line off the reel, and, taking the rod 

 in both hands, casts the bait out in the direction of the fish. 

 The reel-line he holds in his left hand until the moment when 

 the bait is just starting on its voyage through the air; he 

 then releases the line, and the bait flies out any distance 

 from 20yds. to 70yds., according to the expertness of the 

 caster. This method of bass fishing is invaluable to the shore 

 fisher, for it enables him to command a large expanse of 

 water. It is hardly necessary to say, that as soon as the 

 bait touches the water, the angler commences to draw in the 

 line with his left hand (letting it run over the first finger 

 of the right hand), and between each draw moving the rod 

 slightly away from the bait, to keep the latter in constant 

 motion. When all the line is drawn in, a fresh cast is made. 

 There is a method of casting off the reel without uncoiling any 

 line; it is described on page 71. Artificial baits are often used 

 for spinning ; among the best are red indiarubber sand- 

 eels, Devon baits, small spoon-baits, Hearder's baby spinners, 

 an imitation sand-eel, made out of a slip of pork- skin, soaked 

 and scraped {see page 36), and a very excellent spinner known 

 as Gregory's Clipper (illustrated on page 29). The natural 

 bait should always be used, when obtainable. In fishing from 



