PIKE REELS 41 



the latter has to be twisted half round and locked before 

 the bait can be worked home ; in the Duplex the line can 

 be recovered and wound home again in an instant. 



Then there is the " Silex," another casting reel of splendid 

 finish, and, I may add, long price. I believe this reel holds 

 the record for distance cast ; but as far as I could see as a 

 practical fisherman, and not as an exhibition caster, there 

 is a great difference between actual pike-fishing and casting 

 a weight along a grass lawn. 



Now many of these reels are out of the reach of the 

 ordinary everyday working-man angler ; but I am anxious 

 to give a few instructions in these pages that, coupled with 

 a little practice, will enable him to cast out a bait clean and 

 well, without catch or tangle, and only a plain Nottingham 

 reel to do it with. 



I can call to mind many of the very best working-men 

 anglers I knew, who were second to none in casting a bait 

 across river, lake, and stream, and they never used any- 

 thing but an easy, plain Nottingham reel. 



Here is a list of these reels and the price : 



1. An easy-going four-inch Nottingham with check and 



line guard ; very reliable tool. Price 55. 6d. 



2. An extra easy-going Nottingham four-inch centre-pin, 



with aluminium flange, line guard, and check. 143. 



3. Slater's " Combination " four-inch, with cage, check, 



and aluminium flange. ios., 155., 2os. 



4. The " Coxon," very light barrel, easy running, guard 



and check, four-inch size. 323. 



5. The " Duplex," extra light drum, four-inch. 353. 



6. The " Mallock." Price 255. 



7. The " Silex." Hardy's casting reel, four-inch. 453. 



The whole secret of using a reel and casting out a bait 

 direct without overrunning, jerking the bait off by a sudden 

 stoppage, or having a lovely tangle of line when the bait 

 reaches its destination, or having the fingers smartly 

 rapped by the revolving handles, lies in a judicious se- 



