80 THETARPON 



the line should be attached to it by a Catalina swivel 

 or by a slender bit of stout leather about two inches 

 long with a hole punched in each end. The leather is 

 passed half way through the swivel ring at the line 

 end of the leader and doubled back. The line is then 

 run through the holes and tied to the leather by half 

 hitches. This avoids the tying of a knot which ma- 

 terially weakens the line. The line (and the reel pad) 

 should be wetted and the line evenly reeled back so it 

 will render freely when the fish runs. An ordinary 

 multiplying reel large enough to hold about 900 feet 

 of six thread or 600 feet of nine thread line will give 

 better service than the heavier and more complicated 

 drag reel used with the heavy tackle. In my opinion it 

 is best not to use any drag whatever save the thumb 

 pad, for the pressure of the thumb upon the line is bet- 

 ter than a mechanical drag when fishing with a light 

 line. 



Use as light a sinker as possible and tie it on with a 

 piece of rotten or very small twine so it will snap off 

 on the first jump of the fish. The fish must be obliging 

 enough to strike itself, for with light tackle there is 

 little to be done save to accept the fortunes of war. 

 When the fish is on, the strain must be constant and 

 the fish should be fought up to the limit of the strength 

 of the tackle. 



The angler should ascertain how much strain he can 

 put upon his tackle by lifting weights with his rod and 

 line, thereby ridding himself of the constant anxiety 

 of breaking the tackle while the fish is being played. 

 The tackle will stand a far heavier strain than one 



