THE ART OF SPINNING- 205 



minnow in motion while the left hand is getting 

 ready for the next pull, and also varies the spin of 

 the bait. I try to recover line as slowly as is con- 

 sistent with quick spinning of the bait, and also 

 with avoidance of weeds and other impediments. 

 Both for perch and trout the bait ought to revolve 

 quickly, but the more slowly it actually moves along 

 the better, I think. If one sees a trout feeding one 

 ought to cast diagonally a little beyond him, so 

 that the bait in returning will pass just in front of 

 his nose, without his having seen much of the line. 

 One can cast either up or down stream, and 

 in big waters I do not think it matters which one 

 does. In small streams I much prefer to cast up 

 if it is at all possible. The bait has to be drawn in 

 rather quicker to make it spin, but this is com- 

 pensated for by the fact that both rod and angler 

 are less visible to the trout. 



In these small streams, and also when wading in 

 mountain streams, it is often possible to fish 

 with quite a short line, and this can be coiled 

 loosely on the left hand instead of on the ground, 

 a method which avoids entanglements. Five yards 

 of slack line, from reel to first ring, can be held in 

 three coils, the first and biggest being nearest the 

 thumb, the second being rather smaller, and the 

 third smaller still. Allowing for the rest of the 



