TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



a standard spring balance scale and pull steadily and 

 slowly until the scale shows that a pull of three pounds is 

 being exerted, provided it is a heavy or medium leader 

 that is being tested. If it is a light leader, do not exert a 

 pull of over two pounds. If the leader has not given way 

 under this pull, you can assume for the time being that this 

 particular leader is good for the pounds-pull exerted. 

 Now take this leader, after carefully coiling same, and 

 soak it in water just as it comes from the faucet until it 

 is pliable. This will take about an hour, then test the 

 leader as before, only this time you will put a gradual 

 pressure on the leader until it breaks, noting, of course, 

 at what pounds-pull it gave way. Again soak the leader, 

 after cutting off about an inch of each end of the gut where 

 it gave way, for a little while, then tie the two parts to- 

 gether. Test it again up to four-fifths of its breaking 

 strength, and if it holds set it up to dry. 



When dry, tag it the pounds-pull at which it broke, 

 coil and place in an oil paper envelope. The coiled leader 

 should not be less than three and one-half inches in diame- 

 ter and four inches is much better. 



How to color the new leader: 



Personally, I am a believer in coloring the finished 

 leader, not the separate strands of gut out of which the 

 leader is made, because my experience and experiments 

 have convinced me that better results are thus obtained. 



Leaders can be given almost any kind of color with hot 

 dye, and the color can be made fast to a greater or less ex- 



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