CASTING THE SPINNING BAIT 87 



across his body to the left, so as to get the swing ; and when 

 the bait has reached the full extent of the swing let him sweep 

 his rod forward rapidly, feeling the weight of the bait and 

 lifting it slightly as he delivers it, opening or loosening his 

 right hand, when he has reached about two-thirds length of 

 the sweep, so as to release the line just as he gives the lift 

 spoken of, and directing at the same time the point of the rod 

 towards the spot he desires to reach the line will thus run 

 freely through the rings, the bait will fly through the air, and 

 if the strength and the lift be properly given, and the rod 

 pointed aright, his bait will hardly fail to reach the point 

 aimed at. To do this well and effectively will require some 

 little practice. The bait should not be lifted too high or it will 

 make too much splash when it falls ; but practice alone will 

 enable the angler to judge of this. When the bait falls in the 

 water, he must allow it to sink to the depth he requires, and 

 then he must bring the rod down parallel with the surface, 

 resting the butt against his right hip or thigh. If the water is 

 deep, and the angler desires to fish deep, he may let the point 

 of the rod almost touch the surface of the water. Then, 

 gripping the line again to the rod with his right hand, he must 

 commence drawing it in with his left, loosing the grip of the 

 right hand at every draw, and lifting the rod-point and working 

 the bait in shoots, as it were, after each draw. Thus, he must 

 keep on drawing the line in, letting it fall in free coils at his 

 feet as before, until he has brought all the line once more 

 to the shore. If these directions be properly carried out, the 

 bait will come traversing the water about mid-water, spinning 

 and shooting in a way very attractive to the pike. By raising 

 the point of the rod he may, of course, work the bait nearer 

 to the surface if required. 



The length of cast which an angler will find it convenient 

 to make is that which he can not only cast but fish best. 

 Some anglers can cast from thirty-five to forty-five yards ; 

 but for fishing purposes twenty to thirty yards is long enough, 

 unless a special case occurs to require more. The question 

 of how much can be cast is doubtful. I am sure that I have 

 seen fully fifty yards if not more cast with a heavy live bait 

 and float. I can manage forty-five yards with an ordinary 

 tackle, and bait weighing from one and a quarter to one and a 

 half ounces. Long casts are often useful when it is required 

 to get a live bait well out in a lake or pond. 



With respect to the pace at which it is desirable to spin, as 



