23 



keep the action in the right place. I consider that there is no 

 rod which requires so much skill in making as the fly rod. If 

 you want a fly rod made rightly go to the man who is a good fly 

 fisher ; his practical experience will enable him to make a rod 

 free of the faults that most rods bought at the shops possess. 



The rod for bottom fishing should be thirteen feet long, and 

 light, with the sockets one size larger than those of the fly rod ; 

 though for bottom fishing in general a twelve feet rod is my 

 favorite. A laj^e rod, however, possesses the advantage of 

 enabling you to keep more out of sight of the fish by standing 

 further back from the water. The reel for spinning the Min- 

 now should be a common wood one, three and a half inches, 

 and varnished or French polished. The same size will also do 

 for bottom fishing, but a smaller one will do for fly fishing, say 

 a two and a half inch size. 



The line for spinning the Minnow must be made of sUk and 

 plaited, one hundred yards to weigh about three quarters of an 

 ounce. There are several different lines used for fly-fishing — 

 silk and hair, all silk, and all hair — but the one I recommend 

 is made of all sUk, plaited and prepared. This is the best line I 

 ever used for fly fishing ; it is strong, waterproof, and you can 

 throw well with it. Those who have not tried a prepared line for 

 fly fishing should give it a trial, and I am satisfied they wiU 

 find it much better than any other. The line for bottom fishing 

 must be made of all sUk, either plaited or twisted ; but I prefer 

 the twisted, because it runs smoother and wears better for bot- 

 tom fishing ; one hundred yards of it should weigh a quarter of 

 an ounce. This is a fine line, but it is no finer than wUl be re- 

 quired, as I shall explain by-and-by. The tackle for spinning the 

 Minnow, if you are going to fish in a river where the fish are 

 large, should be made of three stout guts, not tied together, but 

 looped to three small swivels, one at each joint, and the bottom 

 gut lapped with tinsel three or four inches up, and a No. 1 sin- 

 gle hook with a small Minnow lead one foot from the hook. I 

 have proved this to be the best tackle for spinning the Minnow 

 for Pike and Perch, as well as Trout. But if you are going to 



