viii FOREWORD 



the illustrations are from photographs of reels in 

 my collection, for mine is not a book knowledge but 

 a knowledge gained from practical experience with 

 the tools described in actual fishing. To make the 

 book complete I discuss the care and protection of 

 tackle, as well as repairs. In the matter of lures, my 

 purpose is not to discuss the various lures, simply 

 show the tendency in construction. I have a large 

 collection of "plugs," gathered during the last ten 

 years, all of which I have tried out, one by one, as 

 secured. I made that statement some time ago and 

 a critic remarked, "He (the author) must have been 

 a fairly busy man." But ten years is a long time and 

 one can accomplish a good deal if he only uses his 

 spare moments. Undoubtedly my critic wastes more 

 time in a single year than I have used in the study 

 and try-out of lures during the past ten. 



Surely it is hardly necessary for me to pause here 

 and argue for the legitimacy of casting lures, though 

 with my carping critic in mind I can not resist the 

 temptation to devote a paragraph to the subject. 

 When "Trout Lore" appeared a certain gentleman 

 took issue with me in the matter of artificial lures for 

 trout, going further and execrating the "murderous 

 plugs" for any use whatsoever, and using choice 

 Billingsgate to describe the angler who descends to 

 their employment. It would be a pleasure to reply 

 in kind, but that would only lower me to his level. 

 No, a true sportsman will be a sportsman no matter 



