WET FLY FISHING, ETC. 115 



frictional resistance of the drum on its spindle will have to 

 be overcome.* 



In casting from the reel the bait is not held in the left 

 hand, but suspended about three or four feet below the top 

 ring, the rod being brought steadily back and sideways, 

 and the forward cast made with a steady switching action 

 from the elbow round sideways and forward. As the bait 

 attains centrifugal speed the drum of the reel is allowed to 

 rotate freely. 



With the old-fashioned Nottingham reel the drum is 

 prevented from revolving by one of the fingers of the left 

 hand, and is released at the required moment ; the finger 

 again acquiring a slightly checking control in order to 

 prevent over running as the bait flies forward to its destina- 

 tion, and it eventually stops the rotating action of the 

 drum as the lure touches the water. 



The minnow, whether artificial or natural, is then worked 

 through the water, being again allowed to sink as deeply as 

 is safe, the line being reeled up in order to keep the lure off 

 the bottom and to give it its necessary speed through the 

 water, the rod being kept well down and assisting the reel 

 in this object. 



This manner of casting is of course the better, as the fish, 

 when hooked, is at once in play from the reel instead of 

 from loose coils, but it is more difficult to learn owing to the 

 tendency of the reel to over-run. It is also more difficult 

 to throw accurately in the desired direction. 



When fishing with any variation of the spinning reel, 

 the lure can be cast much further either up-stream, across 

 stream, or down stream and worked in the best possible 

 manner to secure the attention of the fish. 



* It is right that mention should be made here of the excellent principle 

 embodied in the Illingworth reel, which is thoroughly suitable to this method 

 of spinning. 



