THE ART OF CASTING 



It is important that the bait be not permitted 

 to lie dead on the water even for an instant, there- 

 fore it is started back by a drawing movement 

 of the rod which begins even before the bait 

 strikes the water; coincident with this the 

 caster is passing the rod to his left hand, which 

 grasps it just in advance of the reel and partly 

 encloses it between the second, third, and fourth 

 fingers and the palm, while its thumb and fore- 

 finger guide the line from side to side so that it 

 will spool evenly on the reel, the cranking of 

 which has already been started with the right 

 hand. 



It makes a sight of difference whether the line 

 is let go at exactly the right moment; a too 

 tardy release will result in the bait's striking the 

 water at the feet of the caster. The even wind- 

 ing of the line on the spool in reeling in is a very 

 important factor of smooth, successful casting; 

 without due attention thereto a backlash is a 

 foregone conclusion. The great knack of the 

 whole business is in this and in learning so to 

 "thumb the reel" that its speed is at all times 

 properly adjusted to that of the outrunning line. 

 Backlashes are less liable to occur. in casting 

 from a full reel. Keep the rod-point low when 

 reeling, to reduce friction at the tip-guide. 

 Some believe in reeling in the bait very slowly; 

 others in rapid movement or in mixing it up. 

 Of course this cast at once recalls the act of the 



