20 Dry-Fly Fishing. 



" Perfection." It is necessary to have a long rod in 

 order to be able to cast a light, level, running line, 

 terminated by a tapered gut collar, a good distance, 

 with greater facility, and in my opinion a light line 

 is one of the secrets of success with trout and 

 grayling. My articles " Trout Lines and Casts " 

 and " On the Losing of Trout," which have appeared 

 in the Field in elucidation of these subjects, can be 

 consulted with advantage, as follows : 



TROUT LINES AND CASTS. 



I cannot too much emphasise my opinion that, 

 for a novice especially, to use the modern much- 

 advocated heavy line for dry-fly fishing for trout or 

 grayling is a mistake, and in the early stages of his 

 casting practice tends to spoil his chances of success. 

 Indeed, it may account for the often poor sport ob- 

 tained by many of the more experienced anglers 

 who have not yet altered their opinion and still con- 

 tinue to use it. My running line is made of the very 

 best quality of fine eight-plait, solid, level, white 

 silk, No. 81^ on A. Carter and Co.'s list of undressed 

 lines. It is the fourth in size from the finest 

 manufactured in solid plait. Dye it in a solution of 

 Ceylon tea to a light brown colour, and, when 

 thoroughly dried and pulled straight, dress it in the 

 following preparation from a recipe given me by 

 Harry Wilder, of Maidenhead, whose father, " Si " 



