85 



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% the rod is taken to pieces after a day's fishing, 

 particularly when they get wet. The reel 

 fittings should be about a foot and a half, or 

 say twenty inches from the extreme end, that 

 there may be room for the left hand to grasp 

 it easily below the reel, which prevents the rod 

 hanging heavy on the arms, and will balance it 

 much better than having the reel too near the 

 end of the butt. When the salmon rod is bent 

 after playing a fish, it can be easily straightened 

 by turning it when the next fish is hooked, and 

 allow the line to run through the rings on the 

 top of the rod ; by holding it in that position, 

 you can see how you are winding up the line 

 on the reel, and regulate it according as the 

 fish runs towards you, for if the reel is held 

 underneath when the fish is on, if he runs 

 towards you, it cannot be seen whether the line 

 runs on in a lump or not, which, if it does, 

 often causes it to stop, and may occasion the 

 loss of your fish. 



The most essential and nicest point of all is 

 in casting the line and trout flies neatly on the 

 water, which, when properly accomplished in a 

 masterly way, will be the greatest means to- 

 wards the success of the fly fisher in hooking 



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