86 CASTING TACKLE AND METHODS 



Of course the line should be of some harmonizing 

 tint, in dark water a dark line, in clear water a light 

 line. I have fished lakes where the water possessed 

 a peculiar green tint or sheen; there I would use a 

 green and white line. In some waters a brown line 

 is almost invisible. For a "general purpose" line, 

 perhaps there is nothing better than "salt and 

 pepper," black and white mottled. But as I said 

 at the beginning of this paragraph, color is not a 

 matter of determining importance, and much over- 

 rated by some anglers. The well equipped tackle- 

 box should contain two "salt and pepper," one green 

 and white, and one brown or black; so furnished, the 

 bass-caster may go up against any unknown water 

 proposition without fear or hesitancy. 



Care of the line is a matter of greater moment 

 than color or size. The angler who does not pains- 

 takingly care for his line has no business complain- 

 ing when the record fish of the day breaks loose and 

 escapes, neither should he set up a howl that the 

 dealer has cheated him. The better the line the 

 more care it deserves. The line must be thoroughly 

 dried once a day; to do so does not require an ex- 

 pensive drying reel though that is a great conven- 

 ience. Just stretch between two trees, preferably in 

 the shade, it will take but a few moments to dry 

 thoroughly on an ordinary summer day. If in the 

 house, it can be stretched between two nails, wound 

 about the backs of two chairs, or even heaped in 



