138 FISHING TACKLE 



Long tapers are popular for distance cast- 

 ing, but it is not advisable to go to extremes 

 in this matter. In a place where the air is dry, 

 a much longer taper may be used successfully 

 than in places where the air is heavy and humid. 

 Twenty-five feet is a good length; thirty feet 

 can be managed by the average caster; thirty- 

 five feet will suit one who is in the ninety-foot 

 class ; and forty feet is about all that any caster 

 will be able to master in heavy air. Too often 

 the taper is slow at the point and quick at the 

 back end next to the belly. It should be just 

 the reverse, for if it is spun out too fine it will 

 not straighten, particularly if there is a side 

 wind, or eddying currents of air near the water. 



Experiment with leaders until you are sure 

 that you can always straighten one of a certain 

 length. If this is twelve feet long, keep an 

 eight-foot leader in reserve for an unfavorable 

 day. The best tapered leaders you can afford 

 are none too good for distance casting. If you 

 cannot straighten a short leader, cut a foot 

 off the line taper and try again. Failing, cut 

 off six inches more. Go slow with this, and 

 try it on different days before spoiling the 

 taper. 



It is a common fault to use a line that is too 

 heavy for the rod. B is heavy enough for the 



