88 THE ANGLER AND HUNTSMAN 



and pork strips ; the other a shorter, heavier rod and strong- 

 er line for heavier baits such as wooden minnows, frogs, and 

 surface plugs. 



With your outfit all rigged up you get into your boat, 

 then seat yourself with an idea of being just as comfortable 

 as you can. You must not think casting is hard work, so 

 settle yourself as if you intended to take it easy and fully 

 enjoy a most pleasant recreation. 



Note that we lay stress on SITTING DOWN; in cast- 

 ing from a boat a caster should never attempt to stand it 

 is, above all, bad form; it is awkward; it) is tiring and it is 

 dangerous because the general run of fishing boats were 

 not built for promenading. Anyway, there is no excuse for 

 one's standing up; so sit down and enjoy yourself more for 

 it. 



Now you are ready to cast. Wind your bait up to 

 within three or four inches from the tip of your rod. Be- 

 ware of winding it up so closely that the metal part of the 

 bait strikes the agate tip it may mean a broken agate, a 

 cut line and a lost fish. 



Aside from this a few inches of line between the tip 

 and the lure is necessary to get sufficient whip action in 

 the end of the rod when making a back stroke. 



Here now you should exercise caution in the other di- 

 rection do not leave too. much line between the tip and 

 the lure, as too much may permit of your bait looping the 

 end of the rOd. Watch this and it may save you the em- 

 barrassment of throwing your rod in the lake. 



Therefore, reemmber this watch it always; let the 

 question of winding your bait with caution become a mat- 

 ter of "second nature" with you. 



Now, ready for the back stroke, let us say that the only 

 reason nature provided you with a shoulder for casting 

 work was that you could use it as a guide for the path 

 through which your rod must travel in making the back 

 stroke correctly. 



