414 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



patent adjustable sinker, with spiral wire rings for readily 

 attaching and detaching to or from the line, are the only 

 kinds to use, when they are found necessary. 



FLOATS. The float should never be used in casting the 

 minnow if it can possibly be dispensed with. It is always 

 in the way, and long casts can not be made when it is em- 

 ployed. In still fishing it may be used, and with advan- 

 tage, especially where helgramites or crawfish are used as 

 bait. The patent adjustable float with spiral rings, is an 

 article of real merit, as it is well made and can be attached 

 or removed in a moment. 



RIGGING THE CAST. 



In rigging the cast for the minnow, the reel must be 

 placed underneath the rod, on a line with the guides. 

 Many anglers use the reel on top, but this is essentially 

 wrong. The weight of the reel naturally takes it under the 

 rod, where it balances better and enables the rod to be 

 held more steadily; the strain of the line also falls upon 

 the guides, which insures a more perfect working of the 

 rod. Both click and multiplying reels should always be 

 used underneath; they are intended to be so used, and it 

 will be found far the best way when one becomes accus- 

 tomed to this plan. 



The reel then being underneath, the line is rove through 

 the guides and a box-swivel tied on the end ; to the other 

 ring of the swivel is looped the snell of the hook. The 

 hook is then passed through the lower lip of a good-sized 

 minnow from three to four inches long and out at the nos- 

 tril; or if the minnow is smaller, out at the socket of the 

 eye. If the minnow is carefully hooked, it will live a 



