SALMON FISHING WITH THE FLY. 195 



was ever caught by rod and line, and a break would be almost 

 impossible. 



There is nothing more disappointing or trying to the temper 

 than to get a line broken owing to using bad tackle. The man 

 from whom the gut is bought is pronounced to be a swindler, 

 and never to be patronised again, but in the majority of cases 

 carelessness on the part of the angler lies at the root of the 

 evil, and it is not fair to lay the blame on the man who sells 

 the gut, which varies in quality so much that it is quite a chance 

 to get a good hank of it. Good ' made-up ' single-gut casting 

 lines can be bought at any of the leading fishing-tackle makers' 

 establishments, but the greatest care should be taken in the 

 choice of one. If there is but one link in the cast of uneven 

 thickness it will be better to put it aside. A cast may be to all 

 appearance perfect, but if the thin end of one of the links is 

 knotted to another which is thicker, there the weak part of the 

 cast will be, and it will be very apt to break at that point. The 

 same care must be taken in making up one's own casting line. 

 Each link should be of even thickness throughout the whole 

 length of the line, and round without a flaw or a scratch. A flat 

 strand, or one which is coarse-looking, should never be used. 



If every reasonable care is taken in the selection of a casting 

 line and a fish breaks it, as will occasionally happen to the best 

 of us, the angler has the satisfaction of knowing he has done 

 his utmost to avoid such a catastrophe, and will feel the dis- 

 appointment far less than if he were conscious a fish was lost 

 through his own carelessness. When a casting line gets worn 

 and ragged, which will probably be the case after two or three 

 months' use, it will be advisable not to trust it. Some of the 

 links may be sound, and may be used in making up another 

 cast, but I would rather not trust them, as it is like mending 

 an old garment with new cloth. 



All casting hnes should be tested every morning before 

 going out fishing, and also looked over several times during the 

 day. Knots which are often made in casting in foul wind should 

 be taken out whenever they appear, for, if allowed to remain, 



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