90 LONDON ANGLER'S BOOK, 



should ply in proportion to its thickness; a small rod 

 will not give sufficient impetus to a long line, nor will 

 a long powerful rod cast a short line lightly. 



The winch should be a multiplying one, more in 

 diameter than in length ; if you have a multiplying 

 winch, purchase a good one, and take as much care 

 of it as you do your watch ; many excellent fish have 

 been lost by having a rickety winch, a common 

 winch is better than a bad multiplyer. Every time 

 you return from fishing, see that your winch is screwed 

 tight, and it will last for years a stich in time saves 

 nine ; keep it slightly oiled, and in a leatlier bag. 



Your line must be taper from the winch gradually 

 to the fly, or, at least, the six or eight yards next 

 your gut length, should be taper ; the small end 

 should be near the size of the thickest end of your 

 gut bottom, a taper gut bottom being as indispensa- 

 bly necessary as a taper running line ; this is done by 

 sorting the lengths of gut, and tying them accordingly. 

 Your running line should not be twisted too hard, 

 nor too loose : if too loose, the line will hold water, 

 and if too tight, will, if you hook a weed, or fix 

 your fly on any unlucky obstruction, oblige you to 

 pull it away by force, and twirl in fifty 10,000 cork- 

 screws, (as an old friend of mine would say) it should 

 likewise be smooth and even. Your gut length should 

 be taper, as before stated, and about two or three 

 yards long, the lengths tied, but not whipped, these 

 whippings being totally useless. I have been often 

 annoyed by the fish rising at these dark whippings, in 



