THE REEL, LINE AND FLIES 37 



been recognized by experienced fly-fishermen 

 as the only reel suited to the purpose. In gen- 

 eral, multiplying reels, whether double or 

 quadruple, are entirely unsuited to use on the 

 fly-rod. The rapid retrieve of the multiplier 

 'is of no advantage rather the opposite to 

 the fly-fishermen for trout. Line fouling oc- 

 curs constantly over the projecting handle of 

 the multiplying reel; moreover, as a general 

 thing, multiplying reels are too heavy for the 

 purpose and balance the rod poorly. Reels of 

 the automatic persuasion have not received the 

 unstinted approbation of anglers. 



Granting that the single-action reel is ex- 

 clusively the one with which we need here con- 

 cern ourselves, it does not follow that there is 

 little choice in the selection of the reel. On the 

 contrary, single-action reels are made of rather 

 numerous materials and certainly in varying 

 degrees of desirability. For use on the trout 

 fly-rod a reel of solid metal, capable of holding 

 thirty or forty yards of double-tapered line, 

 size E, is apt to be too heavy, although this 

 may possibly be a personal prejudice of the 

 writer. Aluminum reels are, of course, light, 

 but reels of this material are easily damaged 

 and put out of commission usually at a very 

 critical time. The last statement applies also 



