SPINNING 107 



the ghillie had forgotten the bait-bottle, and it 

 was the only one available. Its deadliness, how- 

 ever, lay in the fact that it was presented by 

 an angler who knew every stone in the river. 



Casting out the bait a long distance, while 

 desirable on particular occasions, is by no means 

 a necessity. A moderate length of line, which 

 barely covers the lie of the fish is sufficient, 

 but the " crux " of the whole thing, lies in the 

 manner of the spinning. The pace at which 

 the bait travels across the current, and the 

 depth to which it is allowed to sink, are all 

 important. 



The most deadly method, is to cast almost at 

 right angles to the stream, and without winding 

 in, but simply keeping the line taut, allow the 

 bait to come as slowly round as it will, without 

 catching the bottom. A little movement may 

 be given to it, by tugging the line with the 

 right hand (see Plate 30), pulling back about 6 

 inches, and then letting it go again, or moving 

 the top of the rod smartly as if thrashing the 

 water. We have often watched a bait so treated, 

 for the purpose of ascertaining the effect of this 

 tugging or wobbling of the rod, and it appears 

 to have but little. It is questionable whether 

 the rod held quite still, until the bait has com- 

 pleted its circuit, is not equally good. We have 

 worked the bait both ways, and both have proved 



