TACKLE 31 



but if it does not receive proper attention it will soon 

 rot. I have heard many complaints about alleged rotten 

 lines, but invariably the fault has been with the angler 

 and not with the manufacturer. 



A generous supply of casts is essential, as accidents 

 are prone to happen, however careful an angler may 

 be ; awkward trees or submerged roots have a pernicious 

 habit of creating trouble, and to be deprived suddenly 

 of the only suitable cast is a catastrophe. 



I am a strong believer in fine tackle, and for day- 

 work with sea-trout 3X satisfies me, but for night fishing 

 I mount 2X. As I never attach more than one fly, a 

 cast of two yards fulfils my requirements. 



Naturally, this is merely a matter of opinion, and 

 every angler follows his own inclination. Numerous sea- 

 trout fishermen need casts of much heavier size, but I 

 think that a fine cast stands a greater chance of accounting 

 for fish, especially in clear water. 



I have never lost a fish owing to a fractured cast, 

 but every time before starting operations I make sure 

 that the cast is in a perfect condition, and, as my casts 

 are ones of silkworm gut, I do not run risks by employing 

 one for too lengthy a period. Silkworm gut weakens 

 with use, so to abandon a doubtful cast is much wiser 

 than to miss a good fish. 



To apply the acid test to a cast, so as to ascertain 

 whether it is sound, take the cast, when dry, in both 

 hands and give it a strong, steady pull, experimenting 

 with about eighteen inches at a time. Do not, of course, 

 subject it to vicious jerks. 



In addition to the silkworm gut, casts are formed of 

 gut substitute, synthetic gut and other materials. Many 

 claims are advanced for these artificial gut casts, but only 

 experience will prove whether the silkworm gut can be 

 ousted. 



