250 WILD LIFE AND THE CAMERA 



think it makes very much difference, though I 

 believe that when the fly is kept moving you are 

 more apt to have the line under better control and 

 with less of a belly to it. And after all that is one 

 of the most important things to keep in mind ; a 

 slack line loses many fish, so do not cast a line that 

 is longer than you can control. One fly only 

 should be used, as there is danger, when you hook 

 a fish, that the free fly may catch on a rock or 

 snag. Whether to use the double or single hook 

 fly is purely a matter of opinion. I have seen just 

 as many fish lost with one as the other. On general 

 principles, the single fly is the most sportsmanlike, 

 but when very small flies are used it is quite pardon- 

 able to use the double hook, even though it is 

 doubtful whether it is more effective. Good 

 leaders are a very important part of the outfit, 

 but the quality is scarcely more important than 

 that they shall be thoroughly soaked before use. 

 The heavier the leader the more necessary is it that 

 it shall not be used dry. A heavy line is desirable, 

 as it reduces the difficulty of casting, especially 

 when there is a strong head wind. When there is 

 danger of the salmon running down stream 

 through rapid water, a very long line will be 

 needed, not less than 100 yards. Under ordinary 

 conditions 50 or 60 yards is long enough. It is 

 not a bad plan, if you do wish to use a very large 

 reel, to splice a length of 30 or 40 yards of fine 

 linen line to the inner end ; this will occupy very 

 little space and be a good reserve. The reel or 

 winch should be of the single-action pattern. The 

 less complicated the better, but with adjustable 



