76 TROUT LORE 



into a mix-up with the brush you need not fear 

 the outcome. 



The line must be strong and somewhat heavy, 

 possessed of strength enough to break any hook 

 or leader you ever use. It is always wise to 

 employ a stronger line than hook; then if any- 

 thing parts it will be hook or leader and you 

 will not lose a goodly portion of your line. 

 Err, if err you must, on the side of safety and 

 select a line that impresses you as cumbersome 

 even, but secure strength. The leader should be 

 short, never over three feet long ; some good fish- 

 ermen dispense with it altogether when fishing 

 small, brushy streams, which does not impress 

 me as being wholly bad, though I, on such waters, 

 shorten it to a single foot. Of course in open 

 water one may gratify his longing for any length 

 of leader, for there is nothing to prevent his cast- 

 ing when and how he chooses, but on small 

 streams the leader is not an unmixed blessing. 



One fly will prove ample ; indeed, a single hook 

 will get you into more trouble after nightfall 

 than will a cast of three when the sun is shining. 

 Many good night fishermen advocate large flies 

 for evening fishing, arguing that the fish can 

 more easily locate them. Again much depends 

 upon local conditions. If the fish are feeding 



