222 THE TROUT ARE RISING 
to encase your rod at night. It is pleasing always 
to be able to find these beloved stoppers at once. 
In any case, whatever I write on this subject, 
anglers can, and will, please themselves—some of 
them will lose their stoppers to a certainty ! 
As for reels and lines, buy good ones. If you 
want a headache, or at any rate are prepared to 
depart somewhat from your usual sweet temper, 
use a crochety, disgruntled reel, get a big fish on, 
and find that the reel does not respond. Take 
care of your reel; as the rifle is one of the 
soldier’s best friends, so is the reel to the angler. 
Cleaning and oiling the reel occasionally help it; 
the reel says “ Thank you!” after it has been 
attended to, just as (on a bigger scale) does the 
engine of a railway train, after the railwaymen 
have given it of their best in this direction. 
About lines—whether I fish dry or wet, I like a 
tapered line, though it is not absolutely necessary 
in wet-fly fishing. Always dry your line after 
use. Wind it round a chair, or lay it in long 
coils on the floor, if you like, so long as nobody 
treads on it. But dry it after use. Some careful 
anglers, after it has dried, rub the line with a 
piece of chamois skin. 
Please yourself whether, in South Africa, you 
use thick or thin gut. The usual strength perhaps 
is 3X. If heavy trout are expected, then 2X might 
more safely be used. But, on streams where the 
trout run from about half a pound to three- 
quarters, capital sport may be had with 4X, 
Obviously, the finer grade is less for the trout 
