LEARNING TO CAST 21 



cipal disadvantage of thumbing here is that the reel 

 can be only partially filled with line, which tends to 

 slow it up. The beginner is advised to learn to thumb 

 the line and later, if he sees any advantage in thumbing 

 the flange, he can easily change. 



Reel the weight up to about nine inches from the tip 

 of the rod. With the thumb firmly pressed on the 

 spooled line, point the rod at the target. Now bring 

 it straight back over the shoulder, the arms bending at 

 the elbow, until the hand holding the rod is alongside 

 the caster's right ear, and the tip pointing back, as 

 shown in illustration. Now relax the wrist so it drops. 

 You are now ready for the forward cast. 



Whip the rod smartly forward, slightly releasing the 

 pressure of the thumb on the reel as the rod passes the 

 perpendicular. Keep the thumb on the line gently as 

 the weight travels out. The first few attempts usually 

 result in one or two things: The pressure exerted on 

 the spool is too hard and the weight goes out only a 

 few feet, or (more often) it is released altogether and 

 the line runs from the reel faster than the bait can 

 carry it out, resulting in what is commonly known as 

 a "back lash." A description of this calamity would 

 be superfluous in this chapter for beginners anyone 

 who has ever tried to cast can recognize a "back lash" 

 without reading a description of it in a book. 



Nothing but practice will teach the beginner how to 

 thumb the reel properly. It is more or less of a knack 

 and some pick it up more quickly than others, but if 



