LEADERS, GUT, EYED FLIES 67 



tapers, leaders average rather less than the 

 length of the rods. Those used with all rods 

 are much alike. They taper from the heaviest 

 salmon size down to heavy trout size, and are 

 selected with great care, since to whip off a fly 

 means the loss of that cast and an important 

 part of the time alloted the caster. For this use 

 it is better to use a heavy level leader than to 

 have the point too fine. In the accuracy wet- 

 fly contests, in which a short leader is an ad- 

 vantage, the minimum limit of six feet is stand- 

 ard. In the dry-fly accuracy events medium 

 to light weight leaders are used, generally just 

 over six feet in length, and tapered. 



The new dry-fly leaders for fishing are 

 generally 7^ feet long; tapered from medium 

 to very fine trout gut, with one loop, at the line 

 end. As one fly only is employed in this branch 

 of trout fishing, the dropper loops tied in wet- 

 fly leaders are objectionable. 



The old-time leaders were three, six, and nine 

 feet in length. But in place of the six and 

 seven ounce rods used with them, four-and- 

 three-quarter ounce tournament rods nine feet 

 in length are now much used in dry-fly fishing. 

 These rods are rather stiff and very powerful, 

 hence in order to develop the best qualities of 

 the rod, it is necessary to use a heavy double 



