CHAPTER XVI 



BAIT-CASTING FOB, TKOUT 



IN April, 1914, Outdoor Life published an 

 article by me upon casting for rainbow trout with 

 short rod and artificial lures, the result being an 

 avalanche of letters, questioning and critical; for 

 any original method of fishing life or thought, 

 as for that must needs come in for its portion 

 of criticism: we expect it. So it is not my pur- 

 pose here to present a brief for trout bait-cast- 

 ing, knowing full well that to do so would stuff 

 my mail-bag unanswerably full, as well as rup- 

 ture some lifelong friendships. However, there 

 is rare sport in casting for trout, using proper 

 tackle; furthermore, the variety of tackle makes 

 not the man. It is a new sport, and an enjoy- 

 able one. Granted, dear critic, right here in this 

 first paragraph, that there is no fishing like fly- 

 fishing for trout ye gods and little fishes, don't 

 I know? but if trout can be taken on other 

 tackle, when they will not rise to flies, why should 

 the "other tackle" be taboo? 



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