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twisted leader is ever necessary, for in a steady pull a 

 single strand will break any rod. "When the smash up 

 occurs, it usually comes from striking too hard, and may 

 be avoided by leaving the reel free except for the restraint 

 of the click, and not holding the hand on the line. When 

 a salmon is struck he often makes a plunge for the bot- 

 tom, so that if the angler both holds fast the line and 

 strikes too hard, he will part something — his leader, 

 whether it be single ply or three ply, or in default of 

 that, his rod. Salmon are as shy as trout, and the tackle, 

 to deceive them must be as little alarming as possible. 



For ordinary trout fishing — we do not refer -to Maine 

 or Canada, which exact heavy tackle — the gut lengths 

 can hardly be too fine. They should be tapered the 

 same as the salmon casting line, but should be infinitely 

 more delicate. The gut foi; the purpose is sometimes 

 drawn down through a guage, but we fancy that taking 

 off the outer skin weakens it, and we prefer to select the 

 finest strands of the roundest and most transparent hanks. 

 You can judge of its excellence by the wiry way in which 

 it resists the teeth when it is bitten. All leaders should 

 be at least two feet shorter than the rod, or otherwise in 

 landing heavy fish, the upper knot will enter the tip 

 ring, and cause much trouble, with possibly the loss of 

 the fish. 



We cannot too often repeat, or too strongly impress 

 upon our readers, the necessity for the finest casting 

 lines in fishing in clear, bright waters, where the trout 

 have been taught to be shy, and comprehend .the decep- 

 tion that surrounds the " cruel hook." There are mo- 

 ments, rare indeed, happily rare for the continuance of 

 our sport, in \yhich trout lay aside their suspicions, and 

 submit to the most bungling attempts at betrayal; but 

 let no novice put his faith in these. They are ot rare 



