CHAPTER IV. 



SPINNING THE WATER HOW AND WHEN 

 TO SPIN. 



THAT branch of the angler's art which ap- 

 proaches more nearly to the elegance of 

 fly-fishing, and is certainly a more artistic way 

 of capturing pike than any other method, is spin- 

 ning ; and as I have already described the rod, 

 tackles, &c., necessary, I will now ask my reader 

 to accompany me to the river, and spin for a 

 pike. 



We will put the rod together with the long top- 

 joint, fix the reel in its place, draw the line 

 through the rings, put on the trace and 

 mng flight, with a five-inch dace for the bait, 

 * r and, seeing that it spins nicely, begin by 

 fishing all the nearest water first ; taking 

 off from the reel enough line to make a cast 

 of, say, ten yards ; then drawing the bait up 

 to within six feet of the rod-top, the line held 

 between the left thumb and fingers, grasping the 

 rod in the right hand, with the knob on the end of 

 the butt placed against the right groin, and the rod 

 at an angle of 45, we turn the right shoulder 

 towards the place we desire to cast the bait to ; 



