BASS FISHING WITH THE MINNOW 147 



through the air and the termination of it, is almost, 

 if not quite, impossible to describe. Personally, I 

 favor the overhand cast, the motion of throwing a 

 ball in baseball, and find it the simplest to teach 

 the beginner. Be sure, however, to practise first 

 with a sinker minus hooks and bait, on the grass 

 or snow in winter, and you will soon get the 

 " hang of it." If you can persuade some kind 

 friend to give you a lesson or two, so much the 

 better. 



This method of casting the bait is distinctively 

 American, and is never used in England, where 

 very different styles of bait-casting prevail. These 

 are termed the " Nottingham " and the " Thames " 

 styles. The former is a " round arm " cast, made 

 with both hands grasping the rod handle, and from 

 a light wooden reel, the finger of the right hand 

 acting as a brake on the circumference of the outer 

 reel plate, which revolves ; the " Thames " style is 

 more easily learnt, and for short casting may be of 

 use to the novice. 



Briefly, these are the proceedings. The rod is 

 grasped firmly in the right hand, and a few yards 

 of line drawn off the reel ; these are gathered in 

 the palm of the hand in a form of the figure 8 by 



