PREFACE ix 



bamboo which at first gave us the most trouble ; per- 

 versely, as it seemed albeit including much of in- 

 terest and of value these authorities told us every- 

 thing except what we most needed to know for per- 

 fect success, and at just such critical places they left 

 us stranded. We earnestly hope to succeed here in 

 obviating a like criticism. 



While some of the subjects discussed in these vol- 

 umes have been dealt with much more exhaustively 

 in various other and ofttimes sumptuous and expen- 

 sive treatises many of them of foreign author- 

 ship it has been the present writer's ambition to 

 condense between the two pairs of covers more infor- 

 mation than hitherto has appeared within the same 

 extent of text, of essential, practical interest to the 

 American fresh-water fisherman, and to the average 

 type of enthusiastic American trout-fisherman of 

 today in particular; and at the same time not with- 

 out some flavor of the delightful literary, esthetic, 

 and what may be termed the Nature sides of angling, 

 which have inseparably been associated with the 

 sport from the beginning. In this way it is hoped 

 that the novice may easily attain an adequate idea of 

 the comprehensive scope of his artful recreation, 

 while our efforts shall not prove without interest 

 even to those who have a more familiar acquaintance 

 with the " tight line." 



With appreciation we acknowledge our indebted- 

 ness to Mr. Edwin T. Whiffen of New Rochelle, 



