420 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



inefficient style of casting the minnow, and must not be 

 practiced except where the reel is dispensed with, as in one 

 mode of still-fishing. 



At the beginning of the cast the thumb presses firmly 

 upon the spool of the reel, until just be/ore the tip of the 

 rod gains its greatest extent or elevation, when the press- 

 ure is to be slightly relieved, so as to permit the release 

 of the line, and allow the minnow to be projected in the 

 direction of the cast. The exact time to lessen the press- 

 ure of the thumb and start the minnow on its flight, is 

 almost a matter of intuition, which can hardly be ex- 

 plained ; however, the proper time is soon learned by 

 practice, in which event, the " Avrinkle " comes to be per- 

 formed by the angler automatically, or, as it were, uncon- 

 sciously. 



The entire cast must be made so steadily and so regu- 

 larly, and the rod held so firmly at the end of the cast, as 

 to prevent entirely any undue swaying or bending of the 

 rod, in order that the line may follow the direction of the 

 minnow in its flight, smoothly and evenly, and untram- 

 meled and unretarded by any vibratory motions of the 

 rod. I trust I make myself understood here, for this is 

 the most essential, and, at the same time, the most difficult 

 feature, or portion, of the cast to explain, or acquire. 



The thumb must be thoroughly educated to control tho 

 rendering of the line during the cast, and this can only 

 be accomplished by continual and patient practice, in train- 

 ing the thumb to apply just the requisite amount of uni- 

 form pressure, to prevent the overrunning of the line, or 

 back-lashing of the spool. 



The beginner should make up his mind, in the first place, 

 to keep his temper, and to exhibit no impatience at the 



