32 CATCHING THE WILY SEA-TROUT 



Silkworm gut and gut substitute must be thoroughy 

 soaked in water before the casts are knotted. The time 

 allowed for soaking depends on the gauge of the cast. 

 The fine sizes need about half an hour's immersion, and 

 a period of two hours is not out of proportion for the 

 thick type used for salmon fishing : a few minutes too 

 long is better than a few minutes too short. 



Synthetic or artificial gut can be knotted without being 

 soaked. 



In selecting any casts be sure to purchase a good brand. 

 Silkworm gut varies considerably in quality and reputable 

 manufacturers use only the best. 



We will now turn our attention to the tackle needed for 

 spinning. Here again we are faced with a diversity of 

 views. Probably this broad outlook has its virtues, 

 otherwise we all would be working to one standard, 

 irrespective of individual tastes and abilities. 



Some anglers are not content unless they are sweeping 

 through the air huge rods of sixteen feet in length, with 

 a weight of two pounds. Others, not quite so robust, 

 prefer less unwieldy instruments for their task. The 

 disciples of each school, however, will assure you that 

 theirs is the better proposition, and, what is more, both 

 sects have complete faith in their respective contentions. 

 How difficult it is, therefore, to offer a convincing lead 

 to the lay mind. The most that any unbiased fisher 

 can do is to leave the subject an open one. 



Hundreds of persons, when embarking on their initial 

 fishing exploits, select a certain type of rod, persevere 

 with it and thus become unresponsive to the efficacies 

 of other kinds. This is very regrettable, as possibly these 

 recruits would have grown more expert had they given 

 trials to a variety of rods and then decided upon the 

 pattern which they could employ with the greatest of 

 ease. 



