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105 



a trout weighing three. In putbing the bag-rod 

 together, he is only a novice who requires to be 

 told that the leading rings must be placed in a 

 line; when the rod is joined by scares, the 

 rings cannot be placed awry, because they are 

 previously tied on so as to lie in a line. The rod 

 used in trolling for pike is commonly about fifteen 

 feet long, with the rings stouter, and placed at a 

 greater distance than on a trouting-rod, and the top 

 joint is stronger and less flexible. 



A reel is indispensable in salmon-fishing, and 

 many anglers carry it strapped about the waist by 

 a belt, as they are thus enabled to use the rod with 

 greater freedom. Others use it as in trout-fishing, 

 attached to the but of the rod. A reel is always a 

 useful appendage to a fly-rod, even where the fish 

 are small, and the angler can hold them, or has room 

 to play without risk to his tackle, as ib enables him 

 to lengthen or shorten his line at pleasure and 

 without trouble. Some persons are fond of hearing 

 their reel sound, though the trout which they have 

 hooked be such an one as can hardly run the line 

 off, and which they might easily land without allow- 

 ing him an inch. Such are generally neophybes, who 

 talk of the "play" of a trout nob 



