TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



Only one fly is used, which is generally of the eyed 

 hook pattern, fastened to a light, finely drawn, tapered 

 or flat silkworm gut leader, which in turn is fastened to 

 a tapered or flat high-grade enameled water-proofed silk 

 line. The tapered leader and tapered line are the best to 

 use and have the approval of the "purists." 



The rod is preferably of split bamboo, from nine feet 

 and a half to ten feet and a half in length, and weighs from 

 four and one-half to seven ounces. 



The rod that finds general favor is one which is 

 ten feet long, and weighs from five to five and one-half 

 ounces. 



Some anglers believe that the rod should have great 

 resilience, thus making it rather a "stiff rod," and on this 

 account called by them the "powerful rod." 



The MOST essential thing, however, other than qual- 

 ity, is that the rod should be suited to the angler^s physical 

 requirements; in other words, it must fit him. 



The fly is cast "up stream" by most dry-fly anglers, 

 and it is considered the only proper way to cast the dry- 

 fly, when it is possible to do so, by the best exponents of 

 the art. 



The dry-fly is kept in condition to float by the making 

 of a number of false casts between each regular cast and 

 by the application, from time to time, of paraffin oil. To 

 accomplish the same thing with the leader and a portion 

 of the line, deer fat is rubbed on them. 



As the object in dry-fly fishing is to keep the fly always 

 floating upon the surface of the water, properly placed 



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