Fishing Eeels. 



177 



rush of an active fish, the click fairly hums — a sound so 

 pleasant to the angler's ear that it is not inaptly styled 

 the " song of the reel." 



In my collection is a click reel made by J. L. Sage, of 

 Lexington, Kentucky, in 1848, for black bass fishing, 

 which he used for many years. It differs from the usual 

 plan of click reels in having the spur wheel at the same 

 end of the shaft as the handle, and the wheel is larger 

 than customary. The circular spring is brass, which pro- 

 duces a soft musical sound, and one more agreeable than 

 that of most click reels. 



Click reels are made of 

 metal or of metal and hard 

 rubber. The handle is either a 

 plain crank or a balance-han- 

 dle attached directly to the 

 shaft, or, as in some instances, 

 a revolving disk is affixed to 

 the shaft, with a short knob- 

 like handle on its outer rim. 

 The latter form is the most 

 powerful ; moreover the line is not so apt to become fouled 

 on its short, smooth handle. Should one of the screws 

 that fastens the front disk-plate of 

 the reel become loosened and project, 

 as sometimes happens, it interferes 

 with the free revolution of the 

 crank; such a contingency is ob- 

 viated by the revolving disk. Where 

 a crank-handle is employed, there 

 Fig. 2. should be a projecting rim, or safety 



CUck Reel, mtt Metal safety ^^^^^ ^-^j^-j^ ^j^-^j^ ^j^g j^^^^^g j.g. 



volves, to prevent fouling of the line. 

 13 



Fig. 1. 

 Click Reel, with revolving Disk. 



