From An Angler’s Notebook 
By Robert Page Lincoln. 
Traveling fishermen tourists often find it a 
puzzle just what to take with them and what not 
to include in their outfit when undertaking a 
trip into some wild section of the country. Peo¬ 
ple inclined to the pastime of angling are sure 
to find that simplicity in the matter of their 
paraphernalia, lightness, ease of conveyance, 
and yet a perfect correctness, are attributes that 
must be taken carefully into consideration. Of 
necessary things that one feels he cannot do 
without, a person naturally would like to take 
a full quota when he goes upon his annual tour 
of wild, or near-wild, waters, but as a matter 
of fact, even of these a person has to make 
sacrifices that ease and comfort may be had, so 
that the real pleasure may be fully assured. 
Many people go out encumbered, burdened down 
with so many inconvenient appliances which they 
could easily exchange for more simple things, 
that it is a wonder they gain any fun whatever 
out of their trip. 
Now the matter of a fly-rod is very impor¬ 
tant. The usual fly-rod comes in three pieces, 
but even this affair might well be replaced by 
the pack-rod without any severe detriment. 
Rough travel and questionable transportation, 
under, often, disastrous circumstances, mean 
destruction to inconvenient things, and a fly- 
rod is not to be excluded in this list. Where 
real convenience is desired the pack-rod should 
be included. The point in its favor is this: that 
it may be put away in the suit-case without any 
room-taking whatever. It is inconspicuous. 
However the point in disfavor is that it has so 
many ferrules that it is not half so flexible as 
the rod of few joints. This may be said to be 
true. The pack-rod is made up of as many as 
nine joints. But, for all that, it is a very de¬ 
sirable rod, and for the traveling tourist such a 
piece is recommended. You will find out why 
after you have been through your own particular 
mill. One is able to cast a very good line with 
such a rod, and it amply suffices, despite wha' 
so many say against it. I understand that it is 
not nearly as good as the standard regulation 
bamboo of three joints. If you are fishing under 
placid, convenient conditions, do not fail to get 
the true three-joint bamboo; but if contemplating 
a trip into the wild, bear notice to the inclusion 
of a pack-rod. 
It is a fact that when people go into real 
wild territory, so many of those things the fas¬ 
tidious demand in civilization are abandoned— 
the rougher aspect is taken into consideration. 
Only those things that are an absolute necessity 
are included in the outfit. Thus it may be that 
you may start out fully primed for fish warfare 
with the best of tools, and at the climax of your 
trip you may be fishing with a handline. Many 
are now using what is known as the combination 
rod. That is, a rod which can be made into a 
fly-rod, via the telescoping system. If a bait rod 
is desired, all that needs to be done is to shove 
it down to the desired niche and there you are. 
Such a rod has exceptional points. It is made 
strictly from the viewpoint of convenience, and 
as such it fulfills its own particular place in the 
world of rods. 
One would say that on a trip into the wild, 
a creel could be done without. Now, this is not 
rules of Walton, is in a creel, among cool, wet 
moss or dank leaves. By all means get a canvas 
creel, especially if you are entering wild terri¬ 
tory. Otherwise, the wicker-work creel is too 
favorably known to need recommendation. 
Incidental with the purchase of these things of 
a handy nature is the purchase of a collapsible 
landing net. These take-down affairs are of a 
singular importance, and no angler’s outfit is 
complete without one. Such a net may be folded 
so. A creel is a distinct luxury. Trout-fishing 
without a creel, is much the same as fishing with¬ 
out flies. The usual wicker-work creel, to the 
traveling tourist, is out of the question. But 
there are found on the market certain canvas 
creels, which may be folded up and stowed away 
in your paraphernalia with hardly any additional 
space-taking, and it certainly is here recommend¬ 
ed. There are times when it is a blessing. If 
you have used the pockets of your hunting coat 
for a creel, you will know what I mean. It is 
disgraceful to such a poetic fish as the trout to 
throw it any old way into a mus'sy pocket to ac¬ 
quire grains of dust and general debris accumu¬ 
lated from ages of hunting. And a trout is too 
hallowed a fish to string on a line. The only way 
we can think of trout, captured, according to the 
727 
up with the creel and the pack-rod to take up 
little or no room. For a dollar and a half such 
a net, of a metal frame, including the webs, may 
be purchased. The short-handled net is of 
course the one that is in demand for all small 
stream trout fishing. A long handled net may be 
used to advantage when fishing in a boat, never 
when fishing on streams, and especially thicketed 
streams where the playing room is scant. Such 
a net should have a sling to it, so that it may be 
carried over the shoulder. 
Extra things of each variety must be taken 
stock of. For instance, always include one or 
two extra rod tips. You may need them, and 
when you need them you may need them badly. 
Remember your additional leaders, or hanks of 
