4 THE SCIENCE OF DRY FLY FISHING. 



acquiring the ability to cast a fly, also the satisfaction 

 he will feel in knowing that he does not, at the water side, 

 appear as a novice to his brother angler. 



The student need not, however, seek the waterside in 

 order to learn how to cast ; his, or any other lawn, will 

 suffice ; neither need he purchase an expensive outfit. He 

 must, however, possess a rod, reel, and line, and it will 

 be well for him to get these three articles from a good 

 maker. I shall content myself by advising the student 

 to go to any good English firm and select a split-cane 

 rod ten feet in length, and about nine ounces in weight. 

 It must be well balanced and not too whippy, and is 

 all the better for being fitted with a " spear." A good 

 rod of this description, if carefully selected, should last 

 a lifetime. It will retain a larger share of the affection, 

 fill more of his life, and, in short, be more to the keen 

 fisherman than a good and favourite gun to the shooting 

 man, a time-honoured bat to the cricketer, a cue to the 

 billiard player, or a racket to the tennis player, etc., and 

 hence the importance of getting the identical rod which will 

 best suit the touch and power of the angler. (See Chap. V.) 



The same may be said, though in a lesser degree, 

 of the reel. 



The reel should be light and strong, with a fairly 

 large winding barrel, a regulating check, and capable 

 of holding plenty of line ; it should be as sweet in tone 

 and as pleasant to manage as a good wife. Thirty to 



