TACKLE 55 



size suitable for bass fishing, retail at from two to four 

 dollars ; in German silver, at from five to eight dollars. 



HANDLES 



I can see no virtue in the balanced handle on a click 

 reel, even when it runs under a protecting band, which 

 should always be provided for this type of handle. 

 The plain, crank handle is less objectionable but better 

 still is the small, unobtrusive knob used on the revolv- 

 ing head plate type of reel. 



AUTOMATIC REELS 



The automatic reel consists of a spool operated by a 

 spring which is wound up both by a revolving drum or 

 key and by stripping line from the reel. The retriev- 

 ing of the line is controlled by a lever, which releases 

 the tension of the spring, operated by the little finger 

 of the casting hand. 



I once heard an angler, who should have known 

 better, heap abuse on the automatic reel on the ridicu- 

 lous assumption that the user of a reel of this type 

 hooks his fish, touches the lever and hauls the strug- 

 gling victim to the net, willy-nilly! 



The object of the automatic feature is to take care 

 of slack line expeditiously, which it does. I do not 

 fancy this kind of a reel myself but I know very expert 

 fly fishermen that do. Not the least of its merits is 

 the fact that it is of ample weight ; also well-made and 

 not expensive, costing on an average, five dollars. 



The size usually made for trouting will not hold 



