TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT 63 



with a fine cast, as it tapers the line for casting. 

 Strong twisted treble gut is desirable for a very rocky 

 stream, as all is not then lost even if one strand is 

 cut, but good single gut will bear as great a strain as 

 twisted. In clear bright water it is wonderful what 

 can be done with a fine cast, but for such fishing the 

 rod should be as light as is consistent with the 

 possibility of killing your fish, as it is very difficult to 

 acquire the lightness of hand requisite to avoid 

 breaking fine tackle with a heavy rod. Gut should 

 be always carefully soaked in cold water before you 

 attempt to tie any knot in it, as it is extremely brittle 

 when dry, and every strand and knot should be 

 invariably tested before use, and not merely periodic- 

 ally like the line. A kink, a knot, a tangle, or bend, 

 may crack a cast or tippet of the best material, and 

 it is better to find out all weak places before and 

 not after you have risen and hooked your fish. It is 

 a good plan to soak, prepare, make up, and test at 

 least one cast before starting in the morning. Such 

 work is more deliberately and better done at home 

 than at the river side, where, in spite of all counsels 

 of perfection, it is hardly in human nature not to 

 hurry if the water looks grand, and the fish are mov- 

 ing. I must myself confess in sackcloth and ashes 

 that I have been broken more than once, owing to 



