WET FLY FISHING, ETC. 113 



thrown from the latest and most improved form of spinning 

 reel the sport is most enjoyable. 



I will first of all discuss the method of upstream fishing 

 in low, clear water, with a natural minnow and the lightest 

 of tackle. 



THE SINGLE-HANDED SPINNING ROD AND REEL 



The rod to be used when spinning, whether a single or 

 double-handed one, should have an action similar to a very 

 stiff fly rod, but should be furnished with fewer and larger 

 line rings. 



The reel to be used will depend on the manner of casting. 

 If casting from the hand, an ordinary fly reel is perfectly 

 suitable, but if casting from the reel, some form of Nottingham 

 reel will be necessary. 



The line should be silk, very carefully dressed, or which 

 I prefer an undressed silk line, as fine as is consistent with 

 the work for which it is required. 



The trace should be from one to one and a half 

 yards in length, and furnished with at least two double 

 swivels. 



Spinning flights are supplied in many different patterns, 

 and it is therefore impracticable to describe them, but in 

 my opinion the fewer hooks the better. When the natural 

 minnow is used, it should be small, not more than two 

 inches in length, and as bright and fresh as is obtain- 

 able. 



The method of spinning from the hand is as follows : 

 The minnow should be held in the left hand, and should not 

 reach below the reel when the rod is upright. A certain 

 amount of slack line should be drawn off the reel say a 

 couple of yards and should be held by the middle finger 

 of the right hand against the handle that is when the right 

 hand is holding the rod. The rod should then be raised 



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