THE BOOK OF THE TARPON 



In fishing for tarpon don't try to capture 

 the biggest fish with the smallest rod, except- 

 ing, perhaps just once for the name of the 

 thing. Proportion your tackle to the work to 

 be done. A fly-rod with stiff action fits a baby 

 tarpon down to the ground, but even a five- 

 pounder will tow you for a mile through a creek 

 before you can tire him with the spring of the 

 rod. 



I am opposed to elaborate equipments, yet, if 

 you fish with a tarpon rod, you have got to pay 

 three or four dollars for a line that you would 

 dare show a sophisticated tarpon. I hate to ad- 

 vise it, but if you must crowd a lot of vacation 

 into a little time and can spare the twenty, thirty, 

 or forty dollar tax for a powerful reel of fine 

 workmanship, containing the automatic handle 

 brake with stop, you will find it for your soul's 

 welfare. Then, unless your reel seat locks be- 

 yond peradventure, lash the reel to the rod all 

 you know how, and in any event tie the rear 

 pillar of your reel to the rod, that a sixty-pound 

 pull on the line may not fall with multiplied 

 leverage upon the weakest part of the reel. 

 Most fishermen don't do this, but all of them will 



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