PREFACE 



As a fly fisherman, with more than a quarter century's 

 experience behind me — ^years in which I have caught 

 trout on many lakes and streams — I have become con- 

 vinced that there is a large number of young anglers who 

 will find in the book I have written something to interest 

 and help them. 



And if any of my older brothers of the rod may think 

 I have dealt in some chapters at too great a length on what 

 seem to them elementary matters connected, perhaps, 

 with the necessary equipment, I ask them to cast back- 

 ward to a day when they, too, were beginners at the game 

 and unfamiliar with its very alphabet. They will remem- 

 ber surely that a few words of friendly counsel by an ex- 

 perienced fly fisherman may save the tyro many disap- 

 pointments and give him a knowledge which otherwise 

 could only come with the experience of many months. 



I am very glad to notice that each successive season 

 brings more aspirants for angling honors to those beauti- 

 ful lakes and streams — homes of game fish — ^which our 

 country has to offer in abundance. 



And if my little work helps any of these young fly 

 fishermen — anglers destined to fill our shoes when we 

 older men have laid our rod aside forever — and aid them 



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