New leadership Challenge Creating the

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Chapter 6: Gender Perspectives in Leadership

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____ 1. “Maleness” is often associated with which of the following?

A. Dominance, being “thing-oriented,” and intuition
B. Objectivity, compliance, and inability to make “tough” decisions
C. Rationality, independence, and decisiveness
D. Being logical, being “people-oriented,” and fear of success

____ 2. There is little doubt that women are less likely than men to be viewed as leaders. Reasons offered for
this include which of the following?
A. Society does not expect or value leadership in women.
B. Women typically are not socialized as leaders.
C. There are few female leader role models.
D. All of the above

____ 3. Female leaders sometimes want to be only with male leaders, want to keep other women down, and
downplay the concerns expressed by women who are trying to succeed. Such behavior is called the:
A. Great Man Phenomenon
B. Queen Bee Syndrome
C. Impostor Syndrome
D. Gloria Steinem Strategy

____ 4. Which of the following statements has been shown to be true about female leaders?
A. They are concerned about enhancing the self-worth of others.
B. They tend to discourage participation.
C. They tend to hold on to power and information.
D. All of the above

____ 5. According to Helgesen, female-run organizations often reflect structures referred to as:
A. Hierarchies
B. Webs
C. Pyramids
D. Wheels

____ 6. Organizational structures that are most closely aligned with women’s ways of leading are
characterized by:
A. Interconnections among all members, the nurturing of talent, and consensus
B. Clear distinctions between leader and follower roles, empathy, and relationship
building
C. Clearly defined lines of authority and communication, independence, and
centrality of the organization’s mission
D. Networking, interdependence, and clear directions from those at the top
____ 7. The new leadership paradigm that is emerging and that will continue to be needed in the complex,
chaotic future calls for individuals who can successfully combine typical male and typical female
characteristics. Such a leader is referred to as:
A. Gender neutral
B. Bisexual
C. Androgynous
D. Heterosexual

____ 8. Strategies that can help the professional nurse combine “maleness” with “femaleness” to be a more
effective leader include:
A. Using discipline, particularly in mixed-gender groups
B. Maintaining an independence that sets you apart from others
C. Learning confrontation skills and how to manage conflict effectively
D. All of the above

____ 9. The nurse leaders in several nursing research studies identified which of the following as being most
important attributes needed by nurse leaders of the future?
A. An ability and willingness to openly express one’s inadequacies
B. Experience as a nurse manager
C. Scholarship and intelligence
D. Mentorship by a male

____ 10. In a future when resources will be increasingly scarce, uncertainty will reign, and change will be
constant, leaders must combine the best of “femaleness” with the best of “maleness” by providing
leadership that is both:
A. Competitive and assertive
B. Compassionate and collaborative
C. Visionary and firm
D. Humanistic and pragmatic

____ 11. “Femaleness” is often associated with which of the following characteristics?
A. Dominant, ego-seeking, and authoritative
B. Argumentative, loud, aggressive, and bottom-line focused
C. Compliant, dependent, weak, and passive
D. Aggressive, flamboyant, and independent

____ 12. Levenstein describes two types of leadership called alpha and beta, and feels the beta type is more
often seen with women. Beta leadership reflects power as:
A. The leader being “in charge” and making all of the decisions
B. More of a means to a goal being accomplished by a team and not solely for the
leader
C. As reflecting the administration and not the staff
D. Totally being used from the top of the hierarchal style of management

____ 13. Connective leadership demonstrated by many women leaders is a style that fits with today’s
organizations because it encompasses:
A. Networking, empowerment of all, and relationship building
B. Primary focus for cost savings, team work, and leader reputation
 C. Competitive milieu, independent work, and patient safety
D. Holistic care, use of complementary alternative therapy, and communication

____ 14. Research indicates that women value “an attention to process; and a willingness to look at how an
action will affect other people instead of simply asking, ‘What’s in it for me?’” Conversely, men
tend to value:
A. Accomplishing the organization’s goals with attention to the employees’ needs
B. Ensuring that the organization survives and not worrying about “old” partnerships
C. Managing the bottom line with a focus on limiting resources
D. Focusing on how to accomplish his vision and maximizing his own position

____ 15. Schein cautioned us to be careful when talking about “feminine leadership” and said that the
assumption that women lead differently from men is dangerous and perpetuates sex role
stereotyping. Her research found:
A. Female leaders to be more aggressive yet less cost effective than males
B. More differences within each sex than between the sexes
C. Males to be indifferent to stereotypical images of women leaders
D. Both genders to want to protect their stereotypes

____ 16. Women and men both need to hold onto the strength of their uniqueness, but at the same time,
incorporate talents typically exhibited by the other. A movement toward more androgynous
leadership would:
A. Combine the positive elements of hierarchies and webs
B. Prevent male and female nurses from competing with each other
C. Align same gender members of the health-care team to work together
D. Promote more harmony with staff nurses working with opposite gender patients

____ 17. Women need to invest energy into dealing with all the stereotype issues (e.g., being perceived as
threats or as not being “real” women), as well as dealing with the issues inherent in the job itself
(e.g., improving the bottom line or producing a product before the competition does). Nurses
demonstrate effective leadership everyday by:
A. Following the physicians in rounds
B. Accomplishing their list of tasks
C. Achieving quality patient outcomes
D. Causing conflict with all members of the health team

____ 18. To teach student nurses to lead more androgynously, curriculum should include:
A. Clinical rotations where students practice the role of team leader and charge nurse
B. Both management and leadership theories
C. Role-playing of how to manage conflict in clinical situations
D. Clinical opportunities for students to shadow both male and female nurse leaders

____ 19. Some research indicates that women leaders typically are quite expert at multitasking and managing
successfully with limited resources, but they often are afraid to ask for things they need. Another
finding indicates women are:
A. Willing to settle for what they are given
B. Very much a part of aggressively obtaining their share of resources
C. Interested in getting the job done without much attention to the quality
 D. Invested in having more women on the nursing staff than men

____ 20. People can improve their leadership skills by incorporating which of the following abilities, which
will assist them in leading more effectively?
A. Keeping the milieu very competitive among all levels of workers
B. Maintaining the status quo
C. People skills and personal survival skills
D. Gaining knowledge regarding how to stop change

____ 21. Yukl describes certain characteristics of women leaders that she says are perceived by most in a
“masculine culture” as “weak and ineffective.” These characteristics are:
A. Humble, compassionate, and conciliatory
B. Demure, assertive, and interested in image only
C. Feminine, high-pitched voice, and wearing long hair
D. Shy, eager to please, and empathetic

____ 22. Keohane describes the current work setting as having few women who serve in authority over men
and women who are:
A. Diverse or from the international arena
B. Of comparable social and economic status
C. Involved in research and improvement
D. Financial affairs of the agency

____ 23. One study by Salas-Lopez, Deitrick, Mahady, and associates found that women leaders had to do
which of the following to be successful leaders?
A. Partake in unethical corporate deals
B. Be related to a relative who was a successful executive in the organization where
the woman was trying to rise in the organizational structure
C. Work harder than their male counterparts and continually “prove” themselves
D. Braduate from an Ivy League university

____ 24. Current research by Keohane indicates that “it is not our _______________ that influence how
[women] act as leaders.”
A. sexuality
B. genes
C. hormones
D. situation

____ 25. Some effective women leaders have been found to behave in a certain way since they have found
this to be successful. What is this way that Keohane identified in her research as having been
followed so the woman leader would be accepted as a “real leader”?
A. They behaved in ways associated with masculinity.
B. Their role model was their mother or some other woman they had respected while
growing up.
C. They demonstrated significant autonomy from their fellow colleagues.
D. They kept to themselves and did not share their ideas with their followers.
Chapter 6: Gender Perspectives in Leadership
Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. ANS: C

Feedback
A Incorrect because these traits are not associated with males.
B Incorrect because these traits are not associated with males.
C Correct because these traits are related with males.
D Incorrect because these traits are not always associated with males.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Application | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
2. ANS: D

Feedback
A Correct because society does not expect much leadership from women, but there
are other correct responses.
B Correct because women are typically not socialized as leaders, but there are
other correct responses.
C Correct because there are a limited number of female role models, but there are
other correct responses.
D Correct because all of the options are correct.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
3. ANS: B

Feedback
A Incorrect because this is not the Great Man Phenomenon.
B Correct because this behavior equals the Queen Bee Syndrome.
C Incorrect because it is not an Imposter Syndrome.
D Incorrect because Gloria Steinem is a leader of the feminist movement.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
4. ANS: A

Feedback
 A Correct because female leaders are interested in increasing others’ self-worth.
B Incorrect because female leaders encourage participation.
C Incorrect because females share their power and information.
D Incorrect because only answer A is correct.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
5. ANS: B

Feedback
A Incorrect because female-run organizations are not hierarchical.
B Correct because female-run organizations are webs.
C Incorrect because female-run organizations are not pyramids.
D Incorrect because female-run organizations are not structured as wheels.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Application | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
6. ANS: A

Feedback
A Correct because female-run organizations reflect nurturing, consensus, and
collaboration.
B Incorrect because women do not make specific distinctions between the staff.
C Incorrect because this structure is too hierarchical.
D Incorrect because female-run organizations do not emphasize the top
management level.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
7. ANS: C

Feedback
A Incorrect because successful leaders should not be gender neutral.
B Incorrect because successful leaders do not have to be bisexual.
C Correct because they are androgynous.
D Incorrect because successful leaders do not have to be heterosexual.

PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Application | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
8. ANS: C
 Feedback
A Incorrect because using discipline is not effective.
B Incorrect because leaders should not be set apart from others.
C Correct because effective conflict management skills are a combination of
maleness and femaleness.
D Incorrect because all of the options are not correct.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Application | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
9. ANS: C

Feedback
A Incorrect because the research did not recommend open expression of one’s
weaknesses.
B Incorrect because the research did not cite experience.
C Correct because scholarship and intelligence are needed for the future.
D Incorrect because male mentorship is not necessarily what each nurse needs.

PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
10. ANS: D

Feedback
A Incorrect because it is not conducive for competition.
B Incorrect because one does not want to be too compassionate.
C Incorrect because this leadership is not highly related with being firm.
D Correct because using humanistic and pragmatic strategies will enhance both
femaleness and maleness.

PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Application | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
11. ANS: C

Feedback
A Incorrect because femaleness is not ego-seeking.
B Incorrect because femaleness is not argumentative.
C Correct because femaleness is often perceived as compliant, dependent, weak,
and passive.
D Incorrect because femaleness is not perceived to be aggressive and flamboyant.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

 KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
12. ANS: B

Feedback
A Incorrect because beta leadership does not mean the leader makes all of the
decisions.
B Correct because beta leadership includes this type of philosophy.
C Incorrect because beta leadership is not just reflective of administrative
leadership.
D Incorrect because beta leadership is not hierarchical.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
13. ANS: A

Feedback
A Correct because all of these characteristics are defined as connective leadership.
B Incorrect because connective leadership is not highly focused on the leader’s
reputation.
C Incorrect because connective leadership is not highly focused on
competitiveness.
D Incorrect because connective leadership is not highly focused on complementary
alternative therapy.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
14. ANS: D

Feedback
A Incorrect because men tend not to overly care about satisfying the employees’
needs.
B Incorrect because men will be more apt to work diligently if there is something
in it for them and not necessarily to keep the organization alive.
C Incorrect because although men like to maintain the budget, they are not going to
purposely not satisfy the patients or consumers.
D Correct because men seem to be able to see how their individual position can be
improved and recognized vis-à-vis accomplishing the larger goal or vision.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
15. ANS: B

Feedback
A Incorrect because female leaders are not more aggressive than males.
B Correct because the finding that there are more differences within each sex than
between the sexes is the result of this research.
C Incorrect because this was not found in Schein’s research study.
D Incorrect because neither gender wants to perpetuate their stereotypes.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
16. ANS: A

Feedback
A Correct because androgynous leadership would use positive aspects of both web
and hierarchy structures.
B Incorrect because androgynous leadership would not affect male and female
competitiveness.
C Incorrect because androgynous leadership would not separate the genders.
D Incorrect because androgynous leadership would not necessarily influence
nurses’ ability to work with opposite gender patients.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
17. ANS: C

Feedback
A Incorrect because there is no leadership demonstrated by following physicians in
rounds.
B Incorrect because effective leaders are not just task oriented.
C Correct because effective leaders achieve quality patient outcomes.
D Incorrect because causing conflict will not demonstrate effective leadership.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
18. ANS: D

Feedback
A Incorrect because this is not androgynous leadership.
B Incorrect because knowing management and leadership theories will not make a
more androgynous leadership environment.
C Incorrect because practicing with conflict management will not necessarily
 influence the environment to be more or less androgynous.
D Correct because having shadowing opportunities with both male and female
leaders will facilitate androgynous leadership style.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
19. ANS: A

Feedback
A Correct because women have been found to settle for what they receive.
B Incorrect because women are not generally aggressive.
C Incorrect because women are not driven to get the job done without also
attending to high quality.
D Incorrect because there is no truth to wanting more women than men staff.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
20. ANS: C

Feedback
A Incorrect because fostering competitiveness does not correlate with effective
leadership skills.
B Incorrect because maintaining the status quo does not demonstrate effective
leadership.
C Correct because gaining more people and personal survival skills will improve
one’s leadership ability.
D Incorrect because stopping change will not make an effective leader.

PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
21. ANS: A

Feedback
A Correct because these are the three characteristics Yukl identified from her
research that reflect weakness on a leader’s part.
B Incorrect because Yukl does not mention any of these when discussing
ineffective leaders.
C Incorrect because these characteristics are not identified by Yukl as representing
weakness.
D Incorrect because these are not the three characteristics Yukl identified as being
“weak.”
 PTS: 1 DIF: Easy
KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
22. ANS: B

Feedback
A Incorrect because Keohane’s research proved that these types of people were not
often led by women.
B Correct because Keohane’s research proved that these types of people were not
often led by women.
C Incorrect because Keohane’s research proved that these types of people were not
often led by women.
D Incorrect because many times women are in charge of finances in an
organization.

PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Application | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
23. ANS: C

Feedback
A Incorrect because no one who is successful generally participates in unethical
corporate activity.
B Incorrect because nepotism is not what the researchers identified in their study.
C Correct because the results of the study validated these points.
D Incorrect because, although in some corporations this may be true, it would also
be true of the men.

PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
24. ANS: D

Feedback
A Incorrect because sexuality does not automatically create a good leader.
B Incorrect because genes do not automatically create a good leader.
C Incorrect because hormones do not automatically create a good leader.
D Correct because this is what Keohane found in her research about what
influences women in becoming effective leaders.

PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Application | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
25. ANS: A

Feedback
A Correct because Keohane found this in the research conducted on women
leaders.
B Incorrect because one cannot assume every successful woman leader had an
excellent role model.
C Incorrect because although they may be autonomous and be successful, this trait
was not correlated with successful women leaders.
D Incorrect because this was not found to be true with Keohane’s research.

PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

KEY: Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Content Area:
Management of Care, Concepts of Management and Leadership | Integrated Process: Communication and
Documentation
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 A Sanitary Drinking Tube

To make this tube, procure a piece of ³⁄₄-in. gauge glass, about 10

in. long, and bend it by heating the glass with a blowtorch 2¹⁄₂ in.
from one end, as shown. If this is done in a place where no air will
strike the glass while it is heated and the tube is then allowed to cool
slowly, it will not crack. It is used by putting the short end under the
faucet and drawing on it as on a pipe.
 A Comb Cleaner

The Twisted Wires Form an Excellent Device for Cleaning a Comb

A very handy device for cleaning combs can be made from a piece
of spring sheet brass, 4¹⁄₂ in. long and about 3 in. wide. Notches are
cut in the ends of the brass with a hacksaw, making the projections
as wide as the saw cut. The brass is then bent into shape with a
special clamp made for the purpose, which consists of three pieces
of wood, two being cut to form a curved slot, then fastened to the
third piece. The brass is sprung into the slot, and then fine wire is
stretched between the ends in the notches. The wire should be very
fine and two strands twisted together and run through the notches.
 Concealing the House Key
The time-honored custom of concealing the house key under the
door mat, or in the letter box, when the family has not enough keys
to go around, is so well known that an unauthorized person seeking
to enter the house would look in these places first of all.

A simple and effective hiding place for the key can be quickly and
easily made with the aid of an auger and two pieces of tin. Pick out
an obscure section of the porch railing, and in the edge of this bore a
³⁄₄-in. hole, about ¹⁄₄ in. deeper than the length of the key. Make a
piece of tin into a cylinder, the same length as the key, so that the
latter will slide easily into the hole. At one end of this cylinder solder
a 1-in. disk of tin, which will make it appear as in the illustration.
If the key is placed in the cylinder and the latter pushed into the
hole until it is flush with the surface, it will scarcely be noticed by
anyone not in the secret, and by painting it the same color as the
railing it will become still more inconspicuous.—Contributed by Frank
L. Matter, Portland, Ore.
 A Mysterious Watch

A very interesting experiment may be made with the ordinary

dollar watch in illustrating the law of the pendulum. A pendulum 39.1
in. long will make 60 one-way swings per minute, the number of
swings varying inversely as the square root of the length. By actual
count it was found that the balance wheel of the watch in question
made 240 one-way swings per minute, which is just 4 times as fast
as the 39-in. pendulum. Therefore, according to the foregoing law, a
pendulum ¹⁄₁₆ as long, or about 2¹⁄₂ in., would swing in unison with
the wheel of the watch. The question then arises as to what would
happen if the watch itself were suspended so as to swing as a
pendulum of the latter length. The experiment was made as
illustrated, with the result that the watch keeps on swinging
continuously. The swing amounts to about ³⁄₈ in., and appears so
vigorous that it is almost incomprehensible that the small spring in a
watch should be able to maintain so much weight in continuous
motion for 24 hours.
 Bait Casting for
Game Fish
by Stillman Taylor

There are many enjoyable phases of the fisher’s art, but bait casting
from the free reel probably has a wider appeal than any other
branch of angling. The pleasure of handling a short bait-casting rod
is in itself a good sport, even when casting done in the back yard is
made for distance and accuracy only. Get two or three enthusiastic
casters together, and you may have an interesting little tournament,
held on a vacant lot, on the lake, or on the greensward of a city park.
There is plenty of action in casting from the reel, and it is its variety
that has made angling of this type so universally popular. True,
considerable practice is required before the caster is able to shoot
an accurate plug far off, but the knack may be gained after
reasonable application. The handling of the short rod differs from all
other angling methods—it is an active sport rather than a
contemplative recreation—and when the fun of handling a good outfit
is combined with the sport of coaxing out a black bass, shooting a
wooden minnow among the lily pads for pickerel, or casting the bait
for those pirates of our fresh-water lakes, the wall-eyed pike and the
muskellunge, the angler gets a taste of fishing—plus.

The Outfit and Its Selection

A good firearm is necessary to the good marksman and a well-

made, nicely balanced rod, to which is clamped a smooth-running
reel, is the essential equipment of an able angler. Bait casting is, of
course, more a matter of skill than of outfit, but that is no reason why
the angler should be handicapped by poor tackle, although large
expenditure is not necessary in obtaining a satisfactory outfit. The
casting rod may be from 5 to 6 ft. long. Where the caster regards
length of cast as the important factor, the 5-ft. length will probably
give the best satisfaction. However, the superiority of one over the
other in this regard is rather to be found in the elasticity and quality
of the rod than its length. The skill of the caster is, moreover, the
ruling factor. The 5¹⁄₂-ft. rod is better than the 5-ft. length for fishing
purposes, and the 6-ft. rod is more resilient than the 5¹⁄₂-ft. tip. If the
greatest range is not of more importance than the landing of the fish,
the longer rod will prove the most pleasant to handle.
The split-bamboo rod has many friends, and a well-made rod of
this material is a thoroughly satisfactory casting tool. A fine-quality
casting rod of split bamboo costs from $10 to $25. A fairly good rod
may be bought for $2 or a trifle less, and a smooth-running reel for
another $2, while a line for it will bring the total up to about $5. An
outfit of this kind purchased with discrimination, while not embodying
everything that a critical angler would desire, will cast a long and
accurate line and stand up under the strain of handling our heaviest
game fish. The one-piece rod is classed by many anglers as the
ideal casting rod. The two-piece rod is handier to pack and is more
generally used.
The chief fault in bait-casting rods is the stiff action of the tip
section. For tournament casting, a fairly stiff rod is desirable. The
same requirement holds good for muskellunge and other heavy
fishing. A flexible rod affords more pleasure in playing black bass
and other active “gamey” fish. However, the best way to test out a
rod is by casting with it.

A Serviceable Reel Costing $4, a High-Grade Reel Costing $13.50, and a Fine
Tournament Casting Reel Costing $26, are Shown from Left to Right. The
Center One Has a Level-Winding Device and a Thumb-Click Drag on the
Rims of the Plates. The Tournament Casting Reel Has a Cork Arbor and
Jeweled Bearings

The steel casting rod is well liked by some casters, but only a
high-quality steel rod is worthy of consideration. It is generally not
classed as the equal of a well-made solid-wood or split-bamboo rod,
for casting. The better-grade steel rod is springy and flexible, and for
this reason is a good rod for casting for black bass. Still, most
anglers have a steel rod in their outfits, but it is not as generally used
at tournaments as the time-tried wooden rod.
The guide is an important detail of a casting rod. Inexpensive rods
are usually provided with large metal guides, while the better rods
are fitted with agate guides, or with agate tip and hand guides. A
guide, ¹⁄₂ in. in diameter, at the butt of the rod is large enough and
will handle the line smoothly.
The single grip is sometimes preferred by casters, but the
additional grip placed above the reel is desirable if much fishing is
done. Solid-cork hand grasps are most satisfactory, being less
slippery when wet and less tiring to the hand than handles made of
other materials. If the lower grip is properly shaped with a forward
edge, the forefinger will find a firm grip upon it, and the finger hook
will not be needed. However, some anglers prefer to use the hook,
and if the rod is not so fitted, a detachable hook may be fastened to
it. A reel band that locks securely is desirable, and all the better
grades of casting rods are so fitted.
 The quadruple reel is the logical choice of the bait caster, the
spool turning four times to one turn of the handle. As the work
demanded of a bait-casting reel is different and more exacting than
that of the click reel used in fly casting, its design is radically
different. The best type of click reel is of large spool diameter and
narrow between plates, while the typical casting reel is its direct
opposite—being long-barreled, with plates of comparatively small
diameter. For tournament casting the finest outfit will naturally be
selected, but for practical work it is unnecessary to pay $25 for a
finely wrought reel. Three typical reels are shown in the illustration.
The one at the left holds 80 yd. of line, can be easily taken apart for
cleaning, and costs $4. In the center is a level-winding reel with
thumb click and adjustable drag placed on the rims of the plates. It
holds 60 yd. of line, and costs $13.50. At the right is a very high-
grade reel for tournament casting. It has a cork arbor, jeweled
bearings holds 60 yd. of line, and costs $26.
Any of the better grades of braided silk are suitable for the bait-
casting line. The average price for a dependable line is about $1 for
50 yd. A small size line is best, and sizes G and E are preferred. A
brown and green, or other dark-colored, line is preferable for fishing.
The black and white, all white and other light-colored, lines are
satisfactory for tournament use. After a day’s fishing the line should
be unreeled and looped around the back of a chair in loose coils to
dry, or loosely wound upon a drying reel.
For practice and tournament casting one of the standard ¹⁄₄ and
¹⁄₂-oz. loaded wooden or metal plugs may be used. The popularity of
bait casting from the reel has brought forth a large variety of artificial
baits. These wooden and enameled lures are used by anglers
because they bring the catches.
The wooden minnows, and other forms of artificial bait, may be
roughly classed in three divisions: the surface lures for use on top of
the water; the diving and under-water baits; and the weedless
varieties, which are usually of the surface type. No bait caster’s outfit
is complete unless it includes one bait of each class, and to meet
fully the different and varying conditions of weather, season, and
water, it is a good plan to select one of each type in light and
medium-dark colors. A variety of typical baits are shown in the page
plate at A, B, C, etc. Many of the baits are provided with one or more
eyes for attaching the line, thus enabling the caster to spin his bait at
different depths. All of the wooden-body baits will float, and only dive
under the surface when reeled in; the quicker they are retrieved the
deeper they spin. While many of these baits have been designed
especially to entice the black bass, practically all of them are good
for pickerel and general fresh-water casting, particularly the minnow
baits.
The other items which complete the bait caster’s outfit are the
landing net and tackle box. The net should be well made, with a steel
hoop 13 in. or larger in diameter, and should have a handle about 3
ft. long. The folding type of net is the most convenient, and is
provided with a separate handle. The tackle box may be of sheet
metal or leather, with partitions for holding reels, baits, and the
angling “what not.” A convenient and serviceable landing net costs
$1 or more, and a tackle box will cost about as much.

Suggestions on Making the Cast

Although much practice is required before the caster can take his
place in a tournament, “getting the hang” of handling the short rod
and free-running reel comes quickly. As soon as the simple
principles are understood, length and accuracy will come only
through practice. Bait casting is easier than fly casting and the angler
need concern himself only with the length and accuracy of his cast,
since delicacy does not enter into this phase of fishing. The coarser
sweet-water fish, like black bass and pickerel, are not frightened
when the bait hits the water with a splash—indeed, the splash of the
bait attracts them.
Two methods of casts are used by bait casters, the overhead and
the underhand or side cast. The overhead cast is used largely by the
practical angler, as well as by those who take part in tournament
contests, because the bait is projected a longer distance and may be
more accurately placed. If the novice will thumb the line, as shown in
Fig. 1, with thumb bearing directly on the cross rod of the reel with
the ball of the thumb resting lightly on the line, one or two trials will
show the correct manner of spooling. The line is retrieved as shown
in Fig. 2, care being taken to form correct habits from the start. To
make the cast, reel in the bait until it is some 6 in. from the tip,
release the click or drag, and press the ball of the thumb firmly upon
the spooled line. Carry the rod over the shoulder until it is horizontal
or nearly so, as in Fig. 3, and then bring it smartly forward, checking
it quickly when it reaches an angle of some 45°, as shown in Fig. 4.
This projects the bait forward in a straight line. When the rod is
brought forward the tension of the thumb on the spool is released so
that the spool will revolve freely, but enough pressure must be
communicated by the thumb to prevent the reel from spinning faster
than the line is unreeled from the spool, otherwise backlash will
occur. The use of the whole arm and the weight of the body,
combined with the elasticity of the pliant rod, enables the caster to
cover a surprisingly long distance after a little practice. A distance of
150 ft. is not difficult to attain, but for fishing, a well-placed cast of 60
or 75 ft. is long enough to reach promising stretches of water.
 The Method of Thumbing the
A Line is Shown in Figure 1, and
the Correct form in Retrieving
the Line, in Figure 2. The
Overhead Cast is Illustrated in
Fig. 3 Figures 3 and 4, and the
B Underhand or Side Cast in
Figures 5 and 6
C
D
Fig. 4 Fig. 1
E
Fig. 2 Fig. 5
F
Typical Baits:
A, Under-Water Minnow; G
B, Wabbler Spoon;
C, Bass;
D, Fluted Wabbler;
E, Weedless; H Fig. 6
F, Diving;
G, Combination Color, Taste,
and Smell;
H, Spoon and Minnow Bass; I
I, Surface

The underhand or side cast is somewhat easier to master, and is

made much in the same way as the overhead cast, only the rod is
swung horizontally to the rear, the tip on a level with the angler’s
chest, as shown in Fig. 5. Bring the rod forward smartly in the
direction it is desired to shoot the bait, check the rod when about
horizontal, partly releasing the pressure of the thumb, just enough to
allow the spool to revolve freely, and check the line as the bait hits
the water. Figure 5 shows the beginning of the side cast and Fig. 6
the cast completed. This cast is useful when fishing from a shore
overhung with trees, and with practice the bait may be projected a
long distance.
 The chief factor of skill in bait casting from the reel lies in
controlling the line, and the thumb must be trained to do this through
practice. Some casters turn the reel sideways with the handle
downward while making the cast, but the majority keep the reel level
and cast with it in the same position as when reeling in. Thumbing
the line is easiest done when the spool is well filled, and if the
casting line is not long enough to do this, sufficient common line
should be first wound on to fill it.
The successful bait caster is one who possesses an intimate
knowledge of the fish he casts for, and while a lengthy exposition is
not to form a part of this article, reference to the fish commonly
sought by the caster will not be amiss. The fish generally of interest
to the bait caster are small and large-mouth black bass, pike,
muskellunge, and pickerel. The small-mouth black bass is classed
as the finest game fish, ounce for ounce, by many casters. The
muskellunge, often confused with the Great Lakes or English pike, is
more limited in range than the pike, being found in the Great Lakes
region and the waters of the St. Lawrence River.
Since the habits and general characteristics of the large-mouth
bass are much the same as its near relative, the small-mouth, the
following hints apply to both. When wading, it is well to cast
downstream. Cast in the shallows, near the weeds and snags, and
close to stumps. As little noise should be made as possible.
For early-spring casting, bass are likely to be found in the shallows
and sheltered places during the day, because the water is cool at
this season. The pickerel will also be found in the warmer and
shallower waters. The most successful baits at this time are the
diving minnows, and other under-water lures. As the warmer days of
late spring and early summer appear, the bass swim out into deeper
and cooler water, while the pickerel remain close to the lily pads. The
wooden minnows are excellent baits to use at this season. When the
weeds are very thick, one of the several kinds of weedless baits may
be used.
The early-morning and late-afternoon hours are the best for
midsummer casting, and the shallow places are the good spots to
work over. If there are any brooks or streams emptying into the lake
or pond, do not neglect to work this stretch well at the mouth. When
the sun is low, the white or light-colored surface baits may be
substituted for the medium-dark colored diving varieties, and for
casting after dark, a luminous or moonlight bait will often give good
results. During the fall months fishing conditions are similar to
casting in the spring, but the deep water is then the warmest, and
the under-water or diving baits are usually the best.
To catch bass, the angler must cast his bait where the fish are
feeding, and he will find it an advantage to match natural conditions,
so far as possible, in selecting his baits. For casting on bright days in
clear waters, the red, white and red, white, or green minnows are
good lures, as are also the silverplated spoon baits. Cast well ahead
of the boat, and reel in very slowly to keep the plug spinning well
below the surface. On cloudy days and in muddy waters, after a
heavy rain, for example, use red and yellow baits and goldplated or
burnished-copper spoons. The best all-around bait—equally good for
bass and pickerel—is one of the green-backed minnows, but no one
bait can be expected to meet all conditions, hence the caster should
have a fair assortment of baits.
A stiff casting rod with plenty of backbone is essential for
muskellunge. The angler is out after big game and must be prepared
for the sport. A hard, braided silk line, size E, and 3-0 or 4-0 hooks,
snelled and swiveled, are the best. Any of the wooden baits suitable
for pickerel—the minnows especially—are good for muskellunge. A
man to handle the oars is a handy companion, and after casting the
bait just outside the weed bed, make for deep water as soon as a
fish is hooked. The fish will be seen and felt quickly enough, and
when it breaks water and leaps in the air, give it a little slack line
quickly, otherwise the strain will snap the leader. A twisted, bronzed
trace is the best to use between line and bait, and this need not be
longer than a foot—6 in. is enough. When the fish is brought
alongside, shoot him through the head with a revolver which is
probably the most satisfactory manner of making an easy landing.
A Cat-Proof Bird Table
 Our bird table is a source of great enjoyment, particularly since the
birds feel secure from cats or other enemies because of the
construction of this ornament in our garden. The sketch shows the
arrangement of the table braced at the top of a 6-ft. post. Shrubbery
surrounds the table and a light evergreen climber clings to the post,
yet does not give the cats a good foothold.
Experience has taught us that birds in general prefer bread
crumbs to other varieties of food, and they are also fond of cracked
wheat. The linnets like oranges particularly. We cut an orange in two
and place the halves on the table. It is amusing to see the birds
balance on one side of the orange while they peck at the fruit. Soon
the orange peel is almost entirely emptied. We provide a small basin
of fresh water on the table, and the birds use it as a drinking cup as
well as a bathtub.—F. H. Sweet, Waynesboro, Va.