THE ROD FOR BAIT-CASTING 113 



guides when the rod has swung about half-way 

 through the cast. The thumb must never be entirely 

 removed from the line as it runs out, but must control 

 the reel and the rendering of the line throughout the 

 entire cast. Otherwise the reel will revolve faster 

 than the line pays out and a backlash will result. Any 

 adequate definition of a backlash is quite unprintable. 

 The whole trick lies in educating the thumb to regu- 

 late the reel speed. 



Presuming that you are actually fishing, as soon as 

 the bait reaches the water, just prior to which point 

 the thumb should firmly clamp the reel to prevent 

 further rendition of the line, shift the rod from the 

 right to the left hand, the left hand grasping the rod 

 above the reel, and reel in the bait taking care to dis- 

 tribute the line evenly on the reel with the thumb or 

 fingers of the left hand. When using artificial bait 

 care must be taken to keep the bait in motion at all 

 times; so, regulate the shift of the rod from one hand 

 to the other so that, at the end of the cast, the bait 

 will not lie motionless on the water for even a second. 

 With a little practice you will have no trouble in 

 making casts quite sufficient for general fishing pur- 

 poses, although, probably, you would not shine in a 

 casting tournament. The principle of the overhead 

 cast is exactly the same as that of the side cast. To 

 make this cast, however, the rod is brought back over 

 the shoulder and swung directly forward. Greater 

 distance and accuracy are obtained with this cast than 



