150 Wet- Fly Fishing 



very fine though whole gut. I hooked 

 a fresh-run grilse of 6 or 7 Ibs., which 

 bolted past me. I hooked him when fish- 

 ing a rough stream up, and as he rushed 

 past me, he made the most extraordinary 

 somersaults that I ever saw a grilse make, 

 in my life. To meet the danger, I at once 

 ran down stream and got opposite to him. 

 I then put the pliant rod, back over my 

 shoulder, and observed how well it gave 

 to every spring of the fish. It was not a 

 powerful weapon, and for daily use I would 

 not have accepted it at any price, but it 

 saved the situation on that occasion. 



In consequence of a recent correspond- 

 ence in the pages of the Fishing Gazette, 

 I am obliged to sandwich in a few lines 

 on " light rods." I am loathe to touch 

 upon the subject, as it is one upon which 

 many good fellows and fly-fishers seem to 

 be rather touchy about. I cannot see my 

 way to agree with the extremists. 



I admit, none the less, that there is 

 much to be said in favour of light, easily 

 handled, and well-balanced fly-rods, so long 

 as the hobby is not driven to death. 



Fly-rods, to satisfy me, must have driv- 

 ing power plus delicacy. 



Given these two main features, I am 



