LEARNING TO CAST 23 



sufficient ; sometimes a slight downward pressure of the 

 thumb, as it moves back and forth in front of the reel, 

 is necessary. 



Some people's hands are too small to hold the reel 

 and rod comfortably in this position and they will find 

 more pleasure in using the thumb and finger method of 

 reeling. In this style, the rod is grasped directly in 

 front of the reel with the last three fingers around the 

 rod (some rods are provided with a forward grasp for 

 this purpose) and the line is guided evenly on the reel, 

 by the thumb and forefinger working back and forth 

 in front of the reel 



This guiding of the line on the reel must be done 

 carefully at first, but later on it is performed almost 

 unconsciously; it is important that it be done, however, 

 as an unevenly wound line is one of the very worst 

 breeders of "back-lashes." 



When the weight strikes the ground the caster "fol- 

 lows through" with rod until it is pointing at or a trifle 

 above the target. The rod is then kept pointing direct- 

 ly at the weight while the latter is being reeled in. 

 We advise this in spite of the fact that many of the 

 older, and very able, casters retrieve their bait with the 

 rod pointing almost straight up. Our reasons for so 

 advising are stated in another chapter. 



The beginner should practice casting at his target at 

 forty feet for some time say until he can hit it three 

 out of four casts. Then he can move it up another 

 ten feet. We cannot urge the novice too strongly on 



