96 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



I have never used one, but the reports that I receive 

 from those who have, do not bias me in their favor. 

 Irrespective of the question of whether they do or do not 

 do in practice what is claimed for them in theory, they 

 certainly, if good for anything, greatly reduce the margin 

 for skill and judgment on the part of the angler, and 

 tend in my opinion to degrade the art to the level of 

 pot-fishing. 



Of what material the reel should be composed remains 

 to be considered. Brass and german-silver, or these metals 

 combined with celluloid or rubber, are usually employed 

 and give good results. I prefer an all metal reel, since 

 metal affords a more substantial hold to the fastenings 

 of the click-machinery than rubber or celluloid. The lat- 

 ter save weight, but I do not consider this as important 

 as some do in trout-fishing, where the reel is habitually 

 located below the hand. A moderate weight helps to 

 counterpoise the rod, and thus overcome the leverage of 

 the longer portion against the angler ; and we all know 

 it is this leverage, rather than the actual weight of the 

 rod, which causes fatigue. 



Aluminum reels are coming into the market and into 

 use, upon the plea of saving weight, as they most cer- 

 tainly do. But they are very expensive more so than 

 their advantages will warrant. Besides, this metal is 

 very sensitive to any alkaline solution, and is easily cor- 

 roded by sea-water ; or by perspiration, if the latter hap- 

 pens to be alkaline, as it frequently is. Therefore such 

 reels, if employed, should be plated with some more 

 durable metal.* 



* Since this was written, a new process of production is said to have 

 reduced the cost of this metal from over a dollar an ounce to less than 



