REELS, LINES AND LEADERS 69 



distance tournament fly-casters at the present time. 

 But long distance casting is seldom of use to the 

 stream fly-fisherman. Casts of any necessary fishing 

 distance can be made with the level line. Herein is 

 the advantage of the taper line: it is in the combina- 

 tion of terminal fineness together with the necessary 

 casting weight which is supplied by the " swell " of 

 the line. This combination of fineness with weight is 

 of great advantage for lake fly-fishing, for fishing large, 

 quiet pools in streams, and wide stretches of " still 

 waters." In such places great delicacy and consid- 

 erable distance are very requisite and the taper line 

 makes this delicacy and distance possible; with it far 

 and fine casts are in the power of the expert caster. 

 In effect you cast a G line to the distance ordinarily 

 only attained by a line of size E. For instance, take a 

 tapered line E tapered to size G. That part of the 

 line which is of size E supplies weight and consequently 

 good carrying power and distance ; and that part of the 

 line which is approximately size G supplies lightness 

 and delicacy at the end of the cast. Obviously the 

 taper line has its advantages. 



But the medal has its reverse. Good taper lines are 

 pretty costly. Also much use of the line generally re- 

 sults in a gradual shortening of the taper due to acci- 

 dental breakage or unavoidable and natural deteriora- 

 tion, and, eventually, the angler can supply from his 

 tackle box a concrete answer to the question, When 

 is a taper line not a taper line? Obviously the grad- 



