li'-J LENGTH OF CAST, ETC. 



thirds length of the sweep, so as to release the line just 

 4is 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 nuilih; 

 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 lie must bring the rod down parallel with the 

 surface, resting the but against the 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 again the line to the rod with 

 his right hand, he must commence drawing it in with his 

 left, losing the grip of his right hand at every draw, and 

 lifting the rod-point and working the bait in shoots, us 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 abotrtPmid-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 conve- 

 nient 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. 



