SECRETS OF THE SALMON 



the fish on light tackle. The maximum strain 

 in this position is less than half that exerted if the 

 butt were held forward at forty-five degrees. In 

 striking, the pull is about half as much in the verti- 

 cal position as at forty-five degrees. If the fisher- 

 man is to use light leaders he must fish with the 

 butt almost vertical if he is not to break his tackle. 

 That is why it is possible to land the salmon of 

 twenty pounds or more on leaders having a break- 

 ing strain of three to three and one-half pounds 

 or forty-eight to fifty-six ounces, a matter which 

 seems puzzling until worked out carefully. You 

 will notice on the diagram that there is ample 

 margin to do this on any of the ten-foot rods if 

 they are not held on an angle below sixty degrees. 

 I have included on the diagram a series of rods 

 lighter than those I use in salmon fishing, although 

 I have landed a twelve-pound salmon on this same 

 ounce-and-one-half rod. The diagrams show how 

 the length of the rod affects the pull. The shorter 

 the rod the greater the pull. The seven ounce, 

 ten-foot rod was one made especially to cast easily 

 with one hand, and at the same time to give great 

 holding power, if necessary, as the butt is made 

 a little heavier than usual. I use this rod for wet- 

 fly fishing in rough water, where more pull may be 



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