THE TROUT. 75 



in what part of the country, in the summer months, the arti- 

 ficial fly can be used with success. 



Fly-fishing is usually practised with a short one-handed 

 rod, from ten to twelve feet in length, or a two-handed rod, 

 from fifteen to eighteen feet in length. The first mentioned 

 is the most common in use, and is calculated for the majority 

 of our streams, which are small, and require but little length 

 of rod or line. Attached to the rod should be a reel, contain- 

 ing from thirty to fifty yards of hair, grass, silk, or silk and 

 hair line — the latter description should be used if it can be 

 procured, tapering from the tenth of an inch almost to a 

 point ; to this should be attached a leader of from one to two 

 yards in length ; and finally your fly , on a light length of gut ; 

 if you wish to use two or three flies, place them on your 

 leader with short gut, about 24 inches apart. 



The latter description of rod is used in larger streams, 

 where it is necessary to throw a great distance ; for this pur- 

 pose, the reel should be large enough to contain 100 yards of 

 line, with the other tackle precisely the same as with the 

 smaller rod. It should be recollected that the trout rods 

 should be made similar to the salmon rods, and of the lightest 

 woods, as formerly described. 



The above descriptions are generally used in this country, 

 but the following information from Hofland, one of the latest 

 and best English writers, may be preferred : 



" A slight rod, 12 feet long, or, if wanted for a narrow or 

 wooded stream, one of 10 or 12 feet only would be more 

 convenient, a reel containing 30 yards of line, a book of arti- 

 ficial flies, and a landing-net, and you are fully equipped f(»r 

 the sport. * * * I have already said that a one-handed 

 rod should be 10 or 12 feet long, and a two-handed rod from 

 16 to 18 feet; to either of which must be attached a. reel 

 containing 30 yards of twisted silk and hair line, tapering 

 from a moderate thickness up to a few hairs, at the end of 



