8 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



expense for a museum of tackle curiosities the collective 

 intent of which would be difficult to determine. 



Herein it will be possible to state only with the ut- 

 most brevity compatible with clearness the essential tools 

 and tackle of the fly-caster. For a more detailed trea- 

 tise on fly-tackle and general equipment the reader is 

 referred to " Fishing Kits and Equipment" by the pres- 

 ent writer. Many years of stream use and experiment 

 have shown that only certain tools are suited to effective 

 and satisfactory and sportsmanlike fly-casting. In 

 the following the suitability of the outfit to stream wad- 

 ing and fly-fishing in an average trout stream is primar- 

 ily considered. 



To the absolute exclusion of every other material the 

 fly-rod should be of split-bamboo. The split-cane rod 

 alone has the necessary speed and resili- 

 ly-rod. ence ^1^ are imperative for effective 

 and comfortable fly-casting and fly-fishing. Solid wood 

 rods of either lancewood, greenheart, or bethabara are 

 very much slower in action than the split-bamboo, and 

 the steel rod is not at all to be considered. It should 

 be said, however, that in the cheaper grades the split- 

 bamboo rod is inferior to the solid wood rod of equal 

 price. The angler should select a fly-rod of either 

 medium or, if the purse is a fairly long one, the very 

 best grade. A good fly-rod is worth every cent you pay 

 for it and more ; also it should be said that good tackle 

 of any sort is not only its own reward but is absolutely 

 essential if you would have the best of the sport. 

 Shoddy tackle conduces to careless work on the stream 

 and consequently to poor success. On the other hand, 



