A Reel Story 



I made several more casts without result, laid down 

 my rod, filled my pipe and sat down to have a 

 smoke. 



" Now then," says I, " there is going to be some- 

 thing doing; I've fooled around here long enough." 

 I had been using a small double spinner. I took it 

 off and put on a No. 5 copper " Pflueger," spoon, 

 On the third cast the spoon had no more than struck 

 the water when there was a swirl and a vicious tug 

 on the line. I struck quick and hard and he was 

 hooked. He seemed to give several tugs backward, 

 which I let him take on the spring of the rod, just 

 giving him a few inches of line each time. 



Suddenly he made a dash for the weeds across 

 the cove. I held him taut, just giving enough line to 

 ease the strain, and succeeded in turning him before 

 he reached the grass. Then he swam along parallel 

 with the weeds, while I kept a stiff line. He wanted 

 to get in that grass very badly, and I was just as 

 determined that he would not. Suddenly he gave it 

 up and allowed himself to be led toward the boat. 

 When about fifteen feet from the boat he suddenly 

 changed his mind perhaps I hurried him too much 

 but he gave a leap half out of the water and shook 

 his head savagely. However, I had a taut line and 

 he failed to throw the hook. Then back he raced 

 toward the grass, but I thumbed the reel hard and 

 made him earn every foot of it. Soon he made an- 



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