28 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



centre-pin reels, as just noticed, are splendid articles for the 

 Nottingham style of fishing, and are generally made of the 

 very best and hardest well-seasoned walnut (the spindle does 

 not come right through and is fastened outside with a nut, 

 like the ordinary reel) ; the spindle itself is steel, and at the 

 end it is reduced to nearly a point, which runs in a hole 

 that is in the centre of the front plate, and is held in position 

 by a strong spring. 



These very best centre-pin reels are rather expensive, a 

 real good one costing something like fifteen shillings, while 

 a good ordinary one would only cost five ; however, if the 

 angler can afford a " centre-pin," by all means have one ; if he 

 cannot, why, he will make very good shift with a first-class 

 ordinary one. These reels are admirably adapted for throw- 

 ing out a long line with only a very light float and tackle. 

 I have been asked by several correspondents lately to send 

 them a description of the Nottingham reels, and how much 

 they differ in their construction from the ordinary brass 

 winches, because they say I only just refer to them in my 

 book, and do not fully describe them. It would take up too 

 much of my time to answer all these communications by 

 letter, so in this edition I will go more fully into this ques- 

 tion of the Nottingham reels. The ordinary brass winches 

 or reels are of no use for the Nottingham style of fishing, 

 because they do not revolve with anything like sufficient 

 freedom for casting out a bait, or in " traveller " fishing for 

 chub down a swim. I have just hinted that a reel with a 

 solid cross-back to it is to be preferred, and perhaps it would 

 be as well here to explain why. The back of a Nottingham 

 reel is generally made of hard wood, either walnut or 

 mahogany, about half an inch thick ; and this is hollowed 

 or recessed out about one-third of its thickness, so that it 

 forms a rim round the edge (this rim is to act as a cover and 

 protection for the back edge or plate of the revolving portion 

 of the reel). Now this wooden back being so thin, it is 

 manifest that if it had no protection it would be liable to 

 warp ; and if this did happen, instead of the reel spinning 

 round evenly and truly, it would be a nasty wobbling affair, 

 and very disagreeable to use ; especially is this the case 



