AXIOMS, NOTES AND THEORIES 139 



injure the lasting qualities of the tapered fishing line or 

 gut, while being all that can be desired for preserving the 

 line and making it buoyant. 



The best method of detecting faulty gut, or a cast that 

 has been weakened in the tying, is by first looking to see 

 if any white spots or glints are showing in the material of the 

 gut itself, and secondly, by bending the gut between the 

 two hands at each knot. If the gut is cracked, or has 

 become weakened, the curve of the gut in the bend will 

 not as a rule be regular. 



Although an old cast may appear to be quite sound before 

 being used, after being soaked for half an hour it will some- 

 times part with surprising ease, and therefore a test on the 

 strength of the gut should always be made, after it has been 

 carefully soaked. 



THE TROUT FLY ROD 



A perfect trout fly rod should be good for both the wet and 

 the dry fly methods of casting. A rod whose action is 

 centred at or near the spot whereon the ball of the thumb is 

 placed, will communicate to the wet fly fisherman the most 

 delicate touch by the fish at the fly, and because the thumb 

 attention is always continuously or subconsciously engaged 

 in holding the rod such a touch will always be instantly 

 appreciated. Where a very whippy rod is used, and when 

 the action of this rod is not so happily situated, a delicate 

 pull by a fish results in a slightly and very gradually in- 

 creased bend of the rod point, not always observed, for the 

 eye is seldom, in any method of fishing, directed to the rod. 



Keep the metal sockets of your rod greased. 



Smear your wooden rods with a little mutton fat before 

 putting them away for the close season. 



Use the two tops of your fly rod alternately. A con- 

 venient way to remember this is to see that the top which has 



