52 DAYS AMONG THE PIKE AND PERCH 



the rod firmly with the right hand about eight inches above 

 the narrow stop ring or top band of the winch fittings ; 

 and when the reel is fixed in its proper position the two 

 handles should be pointing to the right. The right hand 

 grasps the rod firmly, as already indicated, eight inches 

 above the reel, the left hand is close over the reel or winch 

 fittings. To be exact, the rod is in the hollow between the 

 thumb and forefinger of the left hand, close to the reel, so 

 that the fingers of that hand can clasp the back of the reel, 

 the second finger reaching over the barrel and lightly touch- 

 ing the rim of the front revolving plate (see frontispiece). 

 In adopting this plan you are out of the way of the handles, 

 and there is no danger of being rapped on the fingers 

 by them. After seeing that only the bait and trace hang 

 clear from the ring at end of the rod, and only the silk line 

 itself travels through the rings, you face exactly the place 

 on the water where you would like that bait to drop. 



To make the cast you swing the rod point to your right- 

 hand side and partly behind you ; then with another, but 

 much sharper, forward swing you bring the rod over the 

 water. As soon as the bait swings forward you partly 

 release the reel by easing the pressure of your finger on the 

 revolving front rim, taking care, however, that this pressure 

 is not altogether removed, or the reel will overrun ; and 

 also minding at the same time that this pressure is not too 

 tight, or the cast will be checked, and the bait swing round 

 behind you. Your fingers should just feel the rim of the 

 reel, and that is all. Directly the bait drops into the 

 water the finger can be pressed tight on the edge, so as 

 to stop any further revolutions. 



Still keeping hold of the rod and reel with the left 

 hand close to the top of the reel, you press the knob or 

 button of the rod into the hollow of the left thigh, and let 

 go of the rod with the right hand, which hand is brought 

 down and takes hold of the reel handles on purpose to wind 

 the bait home again. 



With a little practice these three operations can be per- 



