40 DAYS AMONG THE PIKE AND PERCH 



runs is about the best thing I know to prevent the line from 

 falling out ; in fact a four-inch Combination made of good 

 hard walnut, with aluminium back and flange, is a Notting- 

 ham pike reel par excellence, even if somewhat expensive. I 

 believe I have one of the first, if not the first, Combination 

 reels that Slater made ; anyhow, I have used it since 1882, 

 and cast a bait with it many thousands of times. It is a 

 veritable diamond in the bright, is four inches in diameter, 

 will hold one hundred and fifty yards of line, cost fourteen 

 shillings, has earned its price many times over ; has given 

 out line to many hundreds of fighting jack ; and looks like 

 lasting as long or longer than I am likely to use a pike reel. 

 There, Mr. Slater, there's an advertisement for you ; if 

 that is not a good one, I don't know what is. 



Of late years many reels have been invented for pike- 

 fishing, more or less useful, and all of them ingenious, so 

 that the anxious novice is likely to get bewildered, and to 

 hesitate when making a selection. I am hoping to help 

 him in these pages. 



The " Coxon " spinning reel is one of the latest ; this is 

 also on the centre-pin principle, and will run round almost 

 with a puff of wind. The revolving barrel of this reel is 

 the lightest I ever saw ; it is on the spider pattern, and is 

 a work of art, and spins round so truly and smoothly that 

 a very light bait can be cast direct from the rod point. 

 This is one of the most valuable reels in a spinner's outfit, 

 and when I mention the fact that it is made by Messrs. S. 

 Allcock and Co. of Redditch, that is a guarantee that the 

 finish and material are above reproach. 



Another casting reel made by the same firm is known 

 as the " Duplex " ; it has a light aluminium drum, so 

 accurate, and running so smoothly upon a steel centre, 

 that even a quill minnow can be cast direct with it. But 

 where this reel differs from the ordinary Nottingham is 

 that while the bait is travelling to its destination after 

 being thrown, the handle does not spin round ; and it 

 also differs from the " Mallock " mentioned on page 39 : 



