42 DAYS AMONG THE PIKE AND PERCH 



lection of the rod, reel, and line, combined with the easy 

 forward swing that alone is necessary to get the bait out to 

 nearly any distance, and above all to the proper and well- 

 timed pressure of the finger on the revolving edge of the 

 reel. Then the reel itself should run very smoothly; it 

 should not wobble, nor yet " chatter," as we call it, while 

 the bait is travelling to its destination. The back or fixed 

 part, and the barrel or revolving part, should fit close 

 together, so that there is no play or looseness between 

 the nut on the end of the spindle and the brass plate under 

 it. There is more in this than meets the eye of the casual 

 observer, because if the reel chatters and does not run 

 smoothly and well, more force is required in the cast to 

 start the bait upon its Journey. 



When the young angler selects his reel he should carefully 

 examine it, see that it is strong and well made, that it has 

 a stout cross back, is fitted with a movable check, and 

 that the handles on the front are firm, but capable of being 

 turned round on their pins easily ; because if your handles 

 are tight and won't rotate on their pins, you will always 

 be screwing them off in use. 



Having satisfied himself on the above points, he should 

 hold the reel firmly by the back in his left hand, and with 

 his right tap the edge of the revolving part smartly down- 

 wards. If it revolves freely and smoothly without wobble 

 or shake, and feels firm and rigid under the brass nut, and 

 its spindle is not loose and shaky, he has without doubt 

 got a reel that is admirably adapted for throwing out and 

 working home a pike bait in this most deadly and easy style. 

 I am now alluding to a plain spindle Nottingham wood reel, 

 without any doubt as good and cheap an article as he can 

 get, and I might add the price should not exceed five to 

 eight shillings. 



