166 TROUT FISHING. 



who have not learned it in the best manner. Now, 

 then, to the point. 



ROD. About twelve feet three inches long, and 

 about fourteen ounces in weight. It must not be top- 

 heavy, nor it must not have too much play in the lower 

 part, but the play should be just in proportion to the 

 gradual tapering; by which there will be very little 

 spring till after about the third foot of its length. A 

 rod too pliable below is as bad a fault as being too 

 stiff; and, from being too small there, is, of course, 

 more liable to be top-heavy, which nine rods in ten are. 

 The consequence is, they tire the hand, and do not 

 drop the fly so neatly. I have seen some Irish rods 

 (I think of Mr. Martin Kelly's, Dublin), which, if they 

 had not been too pliant, would have been worth any 

 money. 



REEL. Put on your reel with a plate, and wax-end, 

 fifteen inches from the bottom ; and handle your rod 

 close below it, keeping the reel uppermost, as the line 

 then lies on, instead of under, your rod, and is, there- 

 fore, less likely to strain the top between the rings. 

 The closer the rings are put together on the top, the 

 less chance, of course, you have of straining or breaking 

 it between them. Use either the multiplying or the 

 new click reel, without a stop; and, by not confining it 

 with the hand while throwing, you are sure never to 

 break your rod or line, by happening to raise it suddenly, 

 at the moment you have hooked a large fish or a weed. 

 Let your reel be full large in proportion to the quantity 

 of line, or it will not always go pleasantly with it in 

 winding up. 



GUT and FLIES. Use about eight feet of gut, and 

 the addition of that on the tail fly will bring the whole 



