118 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. 



The rod for fly-fishing must be really good, 

 or you never can throw a fly properly with it. 

 You may purchase one for seven or eight shil- 

 lings, but it cannot be made upon the proper 

 principle for that sum. It should not, in our 

 opinion, be too long. We have always used 

 a short one ourselves, and we know several 

 other anglers who give the preference to one 

 of that order. When they are long you have 

 not so much command over your fly, and the 

 labour is also greater. It should have a dirk 

 at bottom, so that you can stick it in the, 

 ground while attending to your line, &c. The 

 line for fly-fishing should be tapered by de- 

 grees to the end, which should not be thicker 

 than the gut which you attach to it. Lines 

 untapered are used, but we do not at all 

 approve of them, being quite sure that they 

 will not cast a fly well. And bear in mind 

 also, that, whatever length of gut you use, that 

 should be tapered likewise. We are aware 

 that some anglers are not thus particular, but 

 we have found by experience that a line thus 

 constructed will give a much greater facility to 

 the falling of the fly on the water. The winch 

 should be a multiplier, not too heavy, with a 

 check- wheel, and, according to our judgment, 



