Reels. 141 



happens and the line catches, the reel is locked and the 

 line will not render. An ordinary unprotected crank- 

 handle, therefore, should never be allowed on a reel for 

 fly-fishing. Two preventive methods are in use : first, 

 using a mere button attached to a circular plate for a 

 handle ; and second, protecting the ordinary crank-handle 

 by providing the side plate with a flange, thus forming a 

 recess within which the handle revolves. The object is to 

 prevent the slack line from passing between the plate and 

 the crank. Either of these methods accomplishes this 

 purpose ; while, should the line pass over the handle, its 

 shape is such that the line slips off, and thus disengages 

 itself automatically. 



Another desideratum in a reel for fly-fishing is that 

 the click should be as light as possible, yet offer sufli- 

 cient resistance to prevent the reel from overrunning. 

 The friction of the line through the rings and in the 

 water is quite enough, when supplemented by rather a 

 feeble click, to impose sufficient load upon the fish. It 

 is however a matter of the first importance that the line 

 be at all times solidly wound upon the reel, since other- 

 wise snarls will occur and the line refuse to render 

 always at the most inopportune moment. With too 

 light a click the reel is apt to overrun a little every 

 time the line is drawn out, and this danger cannot be 

 avoided. 



No music is so sweet to the angler's ear as the whirr 

 of the reel, for it announces not only the triumph of his 

 individual skill in tempting the fish to forget their habit- 

 ual caution, but it promises the pleasure of, and a happy 

 issue to, the coming contest. Therefore I prefer one 

 which speaks with a crisp, clear voice, though of course 

 this is of no practical value beyond increasing the pleas- 



