52 ROD & CREEL 



There are a number of reels made specially for spinning of 

 various degrees of merit, but as far as my experience goes, though. 

 I have no doubt there are others, there are only three worth con- 

 sidering for steelheads. 



The first one is the "Malloch." It is an excellent reel to 

 learn quickly, in fact a few minutes instruction followed by a 

 little practice and a handy man can make some sort of a cast. It 

 has a very big advantage of seldom getting out of order and can 

 easily be fixed if it does. 



They do, however, kink the line very badly and, unless you 

 are very careful to push home the lever after turning the drum, 

 have a nasty habit of turning back just when a fish makes a big 

 run, which is sure to result in disaster. Some first-rate fishermen 

 still use them continually and certainly do quite good work with 

 them. If you decide to use one, get one with a three or three 

 and one-quarter inch drum and be sure and have the drum full 

 of line as otherwise you will not only find it harder to cast but 

 you will kink your line more. 



The second reel is the old fashioned "Nottingham." A well 

 made reel of this type in the hands of a man who can really use 

 it cannot be beaten. Such men are few and far between and have 

 only acquired their efficiency through constant practice. A three 

 and a half inch or four inch is about the best size. 



The third reel is "Hardy's No. 2 Silex." I have used one of 

 these reels for several years past and if there is anything better 

 it will have to be pretty good. It is a reel that takes some men a 

 long time to master, others pick it up right away, but as a general 

 thing first attempts with it are very discouraging to those who 

 have not had previous experience in some sort of spinning. The 

 knack of handling it comes quickly when it does come and then 

 you can cast further and more accurately and have less kinking- 

 than with any other reel. 



A reel of this make will be suitable for both salmon and 

 steelhead. 



Lines. Lines are next in importance to reels, as without a 

 line that runs well it is quite impossible to make a decent cast. 

 If you can afford it buy the best on the market such as Hardy's 

 Alnwick No. 2 or even the Reliance, and dry them well and polish 

 with cerolene or deer fat as even they will soon get sticky if 

 not cared for. 



If you cannot afford the best dressed lines, buy plain un- 

 dressed silk ones and polish them with w r ax and graphite. You 

 can do quite good work with them while they last, which will not 

 be for long even with the best of care. 



Your casting line should be sixty yards long with another 

 forty yards of any sort of strong backing, No. 12 Cuttyhunk 

 being as good as anything. 



