dealing with the subject of fish and fishing, you must pay extra 

 heed to the difference between evidence and hearsay. Is this salt- 

 water fly-rod stuff rumor? Or 'is there evidence that it is really 

 growing fast?" 



After due deliberation the jury files in. Mr. Sand gives the 

 verdict, as follows: "Your Honor, the fly rod in salt-water fishing 

 is giving new sport to thousands. We are perplexed that it has 

 not come into general use in salt water long before. Our verdict 

 is unanimous." 



If our court scene is imaginary, the verdict is very true indeed. 

 And the members named in the hand-picked jury are very real 

 indeed. So are their findings on the fly rod in salt water. 



For example, Captain Miller, whose authority is indisputable, 

 has this to say: on a fly rod you can boat large, surface-fighting 

 fish, such as dolphin and sailfish, in one-quarter to one-third the 

 time it takes with conventional heavier equipment. There is no 

 appreciable line drag on the fly rod. Therefore the fish jumps 

 repeatedly in its efforts to shake loose the light hook, and thus 

 tires much more rapidly. 



Erl Roman tells his Miami University angling classes, with 

 equal authority, that the life-like action imparted to fly-rod 

 lures brings two to three times as many strikes in salt water. In 

 fact, Mr. Roman believes that in salt-water bays and rivers a fish 

 will hit a fly in preference to live bait! 



Your 4-ounce trout rod will be too light for the winds you'll 

 encounter, and the long casts you'll make to feeding fish. The 

 ideal outfit is your single-handed salmon rod, 9 to 91/2 feet long, 

 6 to 7 ounces in weight, with stiffish action extending to the butt. 

 A GAF torpedo head line, spliced to 150 yards of 6-thread linen 

 backing on your fly reel, is a good choice. Nylon leaders testing 

 10 to 12 pounds are adequate. For lures, use streamers, bucktail 

 or feathered, with or without spinners. It is probably best to buy 

 these locally. 



Florida in winter and spring is the gathering place for salt- 

 water fly-rod fishermen. Water levels in the St. Johns River 

 watershed are low enough to insure superb fishing. 



The fly rod goes to sea! Take one and come along. 



47 



