140 Fly-rods and Fly-tacUe. 



CHAPTER V. 



REELS. 



HOWEVER useful the later forms of reel, which can 

 be changed from a click to a multiplier at will, may be 

 where casting the minnow is the usual, and casting the 

 fly the exceptional method of fishing, all the authorities 

 agree that for fly-fishing pure and simple a plain click- 

 reel is the best. 



The spool, or part on which the line is wound, should 

 be quite narrow say from one-half to three-quarters of 

 an inch wide. The narrower this is, the less attention 

 need be given to the distribution of the line on the spool 

 when reeling in. With a wide reel the line, unless 

 watched, has a tendency to bunch in one place. From 

 this bunch some of the lateral coils slip off sideways, 

 and thus become loose ; these become involved with 

 the succeeding turns of the line, which then fouls and 

 refuses to render. This state of affairs is not only very 

 annoying, but it is also exceedingly dangerous ; since, 

 should this happen when any fish of a size the angler 

 would regret to lose is fast, something will probably 

 break and the fish escape. 



Another point of importance is the handle of the reel. 

 This should be so arranged that when the line is drawn 

 from the reel preparatory to the back cast, the loop so 

 formed will find no point of attachment on the handle, 

 should it be accidentally thrown over it ; for if this 



