222 THE TROUT ARE RISING 



to encase your rod at night. It is pleasing always 

 to be able to find these beloved stoppers at once. 

 In any case, whatever I write on this subject, 

 anglers can, and will, please themselves some of 

 them will lose their stoppers to a certainty ! 



As for reels and lines, buy good ones. If you 

 want a headache, or at any rate are prepared to 

 depart somewhat from your usual sweet temper, 

 use a crochety, disgruntled reel, get a big fish on, 

 and find that the reel does not respond. Take 

 care of your reel ; as the rifle is one of the 

 soldier's best friends, so is the reel to the angler. 

 Cleaning and oiling the reel occasionally help it ; 

 the reel says " Thank you ! " after it has been 

 attended to, just as (on a bigger scale) does the 

 engine of a railway train, after the railwaymen 

 have given it of their best in this direction. 

 About lines whether I fish dry or wet, I like a 

 tapered line, though it is not absolutely necessary 

 in wet-fly fishing. Always dry your line after 

 use. Wind it round a chair, or lay it in long 

 coils on the floor, if you like, so long as nobody 

 treads on it. But dry it after use. Some careful 

 anglers, after it has dried, rub the line with a 

 piece of chamois skin. 



Please yourself whether, in South Africa, you 

 use thick or thin gut. The usual strength perhaps 

 is 3X. If heavy trout are expected, then 2X might 

 more safely be used. But, on streams where the 

 trout run from about half a pound to three- 

 quarters, capital sport may be had with 4X. 

 Obviously, the finer grade is less for the trout 



