SUGGESTIONS. 221 



latter position, and because, without constant attention, 

 your reel is never on the upper side of the rod to any 

 certainty, but anywhere and everywhere. Keep your 

 reels well oiled. 



Enamelled, or water-proof, braided silk, tapered, Am- 

 erican fly-lines, are the best made for fly-fishing. It 

 is important that the size of the line should be adapted 

 to the rod. A heavy line on a very light rod would be 

 bad. A very light line on a heavy rod would be worse. 

 No. 3 or E, and No. 4 or F, are the two best sizes. I 

 find many are inclined to use too light lines, supposing 

 the lighter the line the less trouble there will be in cast- 

 ing it. This, I think, is an error. 



It is impossible to cast well against or across the 

 wind, with a very light line ; and very light lines do 

 not "lay out" as easily or accurately as heavier ones. 



Leaders, or casting lines, I like rather heavy, pro- 

 portionate to the line. To use a very light leader on a 

 No. 4 line is not well ; for what is the leader but a 

 continuation of the line ? Therefore it should approxi- 

 mate the size of the line, that there may be no sudden 

 change in size where the leader begins, in order that 

 the flies shall keep ahead, where they belong. 



Leaders should be made with loops at proper inter- 

 vals, to which the flies are to be attached. Leaders 

 with such loops will last at least twice as long as those 

 without them. 



Three flies are generally used ; perhaps two are just 

 as good. But I use three and often find the increased 



