PREFACE 



In writing this book of fish, fishing, tackle and how 

 to use it, as well as incidental remarks on equipment 

 it is not the intention of the writer to set it up on a 

 pinnacle as a " hollier than thou " book. Opinions 

 on tackle and the method of using it are varied and 

 at times wonderful. There are purists in every 

 angle of the sport and by each method of angling the 

 purist in that particular line will swear by the nine 

 gods and at times swear at all other methods. 



I have never allied myself to any one particular 

 part of angling. I can have equally as much enjoy- 

 ment from tossing the plug, live bait or feathery fly. 

 As long as it is fishing in a sportsman-like manner 

 with line, rod and reel and playing the fish until it 

 comes up to the net or gaff, white-side up, I con- 

 sider the game true sport and worthy of just con- 

 sideration. 



As to the methods of angling and the handling of 

 tackle advocated herein, they are the methods that 

 I have found to be successful from actual experiences 

 of my own or from the experiences of other fisher- 

 men with whom I have cast and whipped lake and 

 stream. 



As to the information on the habits and peculiari- 

 ties of the different game fish, this I have accumulated 

 since my early fishing days passed on the Potomac 



