TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



angler must choose for himself the reel that seems to him 

 to give the proper balance and then learn from experience 

 if the combination of rod and reel selected is the right 

 one, all things considered, for him to use. 



When selecting a reel for the first time it is really neces- 

 sary, to obtain the best results, to fit the reel to the rod 

 upon which it is to be used, otherwise it will be simply a 

 case of "good luck'' if any reasonable kind of a balance 

 is obtained. 



Of late years there has been a growing tendency to use 

 lighter rods than those formerly in vogue, and on this 

 account reels have been selected that were altogether too 

 light in weight to make a proper balance. 



For some reason or other the feeling seems to have 

 taken hold of anglers that "a light rod necessarily should 

 have a very light reel," and while a light rod should have 

 a lighter reel than a heavy rod the idea has been carried 

 too far, with a result most disappointing in many cases. 



The angler who is persistent and who likes to fish for 

 many hours day after day, must soon learn the combina- 

 tion of rod and reel that will give him the desired balance 

 to prevent fatigue in his wrist, if he is to get all the pleasure 

 out of fly-fishing. 



Having talked with many experienced and successful 

 anglers as to the balance of rod and reel, and finding that 

 their views were quite in accord with my own, I suggest 

 to the beginner and others that they first start with the idea 

 that the reel, without the line, should weigh at least one 

 and one-half times more than the rod and let the basis be 



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