Fishing Humour - Page 4 of 6

Extract from The Fishing Handbook to end all Fishing Handbooks
(Copyright 1972 Wolfe Publishing Limited)

Try balancing the rod, just above the reel, on your forefinger. If it snaps in two, it is obviously not as strong as it might be. Now try a few dummy casts. If, on the first movement, you fall flat on your back, either the rod is too heavy or you ought to eat more Bickiweet for breakfast. If, on the forward movement, the top joint snaps, you can be certain of one thing: you'll have to pay for it.

The Reel

There are three main types of reel: the centre pin, the fixed spool and the multiplier. The centre pin is the wheel-type reel. It generally has a ratchet mechanism, the main purpose of which is to give an early warning of sand in the works.

The fixed spool reel has a stationary bobbin, from which the line is pulled off by the action of the cast, and the line guard. The line guard is the thing around which you always tack the line the wrong way when you are making up your rod. You generally find this out when you try to reel in after the first cast.

The multiplier has a system of gears, which turns the drum several times for every turn of the handle, thus making for faster recovery. The multiplier is excellent for making birds' nests in the line.