6 USE OF LEFT HAND 



put a rod together, to place the reel on the rod, and 

 thread the line ; but just here a word as to the reel 

 and I am now speaking to the right-handed fisherman. 

 Always use your left hand for manipulating the reel- 

 that is, have the reel fixed on the rod so that its handle 

 is pointing towards the left hand when the rod is being 

 used. It is quite a simple matter to learn to use the 

 reel with the left hand, and it is of infinite advantage 

 to the fisherman.* The rod can thus be always re- 

 tained in the right hand after striking a fish, avoiding 

 the risky and, in my opinion, unnecessary changing of 

 the rod from right to left hand when a fish is hooked, 

 and leaving the left hand free at all times for the 

 landing-net, for manipulating the line and reel, for 

 one's pipe, glasses, etc. 



The rod and line being now ready, take your stand 

 in the middle of your grass plot. The rod should be 

 in your right hand, pointing forward, the reel being 

 on the lower side of the rod, and your hand firmly 

 grasping the butt, with the thumb extending along the 

 rod on the upper side (see Plate I.). 



Get a friend to take the end of your line in his hand 

 and walk out about 12 yards. Lower your rod to 

 a nearly horizontal position as the line runs off the 

 reel, keeping the check on. Your friend must now 

 lay his end of the line on the grass. The position of 

 your body should be as follows : 



The right foot slightly advanced and pointing in the 

 direction of the line, the left foot slightly behind and 

 * See Ambidexterity, p. 137. 



