292 TROUT FISHING 



accustomed to a bass will not readily take to any 

 other form of receptacle in hot weather. 



In a book of this sort I do not think there is any 

 necessity to go into the minutiae of equipment, a 

 matter which has been sufficiently dealt with by 

 many competent pens. A modern catalogue of 

 fishing tackle shows that we have reached a very 

 high standard of efficiency and comfort in regard to 

 our gear. Where development is most probable is 

 in flies. In a previous chapter I have hinted my 

 belief that the new conventions are in fact more true 

 to nature than the old, though the belief does not 

 move me to bonfires or other drastic action. While 

 the trout continue, in their irresponsible manner, to 

 rise at buttercups, cigarette-ends, defunct lucifer 

 matches, and other poor imitations of the insect 

 kingdom, I believe I shall continue to get as much 

 sport as is good for me with the flies which take my 

 own vagrant fancies from time to time. Those flies 

 may be old, or they may be new. I have no pre- 

 judice either way. So there is nothing earnest or 

 useful to be said here. 



There are, however, just a few things connected 

 with equipment on which I have definite views, as 

 I am sure that they have had a considerable influence 

 on my fishing. One relates to reel-lines and it is of 

 more importance to novices than to old hands. 

 When I was a boy I used to do my fly fishing with 



