IDEAS ON FLY-FISHING. 233 



I can well remember keeping buried in my own bosom, 

 the position of pools, the color of flies, etc., where I was 

 either certain of taking the largest fish, or by the 

 using of which, I could almost guarantee myself good 

 sport. But I trust I no longer possess this love of self, 

 and in no better way can I prove it than by endeavor- 

 ing to teach the young idea, not how to shoot, but to 

 fish ; come forward ye, also, who have experience, 

 and help me in my task. 



But to commence, we will first allude to the imple- 

 ments. The fly rod, like the gun, can not be too 

 light, as long as it possesses the requisite strength. 

 This is even a greater desideratum in the former than 

 in the latter, for there is no convenient resting-position 

 in which you can carry it incessantly ; while on the 

 river it is at work, not even the respite for loading 

 being necessary, and if a heavy gun after a hard day's 

 work will make you undershoot your game, a heavy 

 rod will make you a sluggard at evening in striking 

 your fish, and the result will be about similar in both 

 instances. For the trout fisherman, he, I mean, who 

 fly-fishes burns and rivers, from twelve to thirteen 

 feet is quite sufficient length for his rod to be (lake 

 ' fishermen frequently use longer, but what they gain in 

 reach they lose in quickness, a loss, in my estimation, 



