January, 1918 
FOREST AND S T R E A M 
25 
IMPROVING THE ANGLER’S EQUIPMENT 
THE VARIOUS DEFECTS IN ANGLERS’ EQUIPMENT AND METHODS 
THAT ACT AS A DETERRENT TO ATTAIN THE HIGHEST FORM OF SPORT 
By LOUIS RHEAD 
I N this, and following articles, the writer 
will endeavor to tersely describe what 
in his humble opinion are serious de¬ 
fects in angler’s equipment and methods, 
that act as a deterrent to attain the best 
and highest form of real sport. Having 
no axe to grind, or interest whatever in 
tackle dealers or manufacturers, I shall, 
in the interests of my brother anglers only 
mention what I think are defects and sug¬ 
gest remedies for them. Not indeed, for 
the sake of finding fault, or controversial 
debate, but rather in the nature of sugges¬ 
tions to improve existing conditions. I 
invite fair criticisms, both from the angler 
and tackle maker, for in such, much is 
learned—if given in a kindly spirit and 
honest way. In the past, season after sea¬ 
son, veteran and tyro placidly have swal¬ 
lowed the solemn assurance of dealers that 
everything they sell is absolutely right— 
and the higher the price paid, the better 
the goods. I shall prove, from many years’ 
study in active practice, the fallacy of it, 
and that a great many things can easily be 
mended and made much more convenient 
to the craft. 
Fresh and Salt Water Fishing Lines 
I commence with fishing lines, because 
in my extensive and varied usage of them, 
they give the least satisfaction. Every up- 
to-date tackle shop has for sale a numerous 
and varied assortment of lines, manufac¬ 
tured by, or for them, intended to suit the 
pockets of rich and poor. Just lately, my 
needs required a thin, yet strong line for 
casting a light surface lure, equally ap¬ 
plicable to a long trout rod and short cast¬ 
ing rod—a line that after being thoroughly 
soaked would run smooth and free from 
the reel without clinging to the tip; that 
would not easily tangle up, or snarl, either 
on the spool or surplus unwound line. 
In short, I required a thin, strong line 
with a stiffer backbone, more pliable than 
oiled silk and less pliable than braided raw 
silk; many kinds of both have not proved 
suitable either in fresh or salt water for 
the purpose required. I conceived a line 
to suit my wants would be one made of 
the best linen with a coating of tar or 
wax. So I wrote to ask the oldest and 
most famous American line maker whose 
factory is at Ashaway, R. I., to make a 
special line to cover the aforesaid condi¬ 
tions of strength and pliability. 
In the course of time I got three dif¬ 
ferent sizes. The one most fine for use in 
weakfishing with gut leader attached and 
a single live shrimp as bait at the surface; 
also for use in casting floating feather 
minnows with a trout rod exactly as one 
does in fly fishing, and to obviate the pre¬ 
viously mentioned defects in both oil and 
raw silk lines. I tried out the “finer one” 
made of the highest quality of twisted 
linen, which is to be known as the “Avia¬ 
tor,” and it proved in the exceedingly clear 
water of Lake George to be well adapted 
for bass fishing with artificial light lures. 
It has also been tried in Jamaica Bay for 
'N response to many inquiries, the 
editors desire to say, that the 
writer of these letters which have 
attracted so much attention is an artist 
author who has devoted much of his 
time for many years to the life study 
of game fishes and the various meth¬ 
ods of their capture, his object being 
to evolve perfect artificial imitations 
of their food that if rightly used will 
revolutionise existing conditions. 
Mr. Rhead will write for Forest 
and Stream a series of articles on the 
improvement of the angler's equip¬ 
ment, and as his attainments in lures 
is accomplished he will gladly teach 
personally or write articles describing 
them for those who desire to manufac¬ 
ture their own lures. It is a held re¬ 
plete with interest to the studious 
angler and suggestions and disctission 
will be gladly welcomed .— Editors. 
Right tackle aids in many a victory 
weakfish and is equally successful. I found 
it covered all my wants exactly. In 
strength, in invisibility, in stiffness and 
comfort to wind and unwind without a 
snarl it was all that could be desired. It 
is no thicker than fine thread, or coarse 
cotton, but its smooth woven surface is 
perfection indeed. If the desideratum be 
to fool a game fish of medium weight, you 
have what you want. 
Perhaps I may be wrong in my assump¬ 
tion but I believe a pure linen “tarred” line 
is far superior to the varied assortment oi 
raw silk lines so popular for bait casting— 
irrespective of price. There is no question 
that a high quality linen line will last 
longer and stand rougher usage. 
Drv and Wet Fly-Casting Lines 
VERY fly caster will concede to the 
immense value of a good line to aid 
and give comfort in this, the highest 
and most attractive method of fishing. 
Personally, I think the same line should 
be used for both wet and dry fly fishing, 
for many reasons—chief of which is, you 
often wish to use both methods alternately 
during a day’s fishing, and the obvious 
nuisance in changing lines—even should 
they be wound on different reels, is what 
few would spare precious time on the 
stream. It is quite easy to change a wet 
gut-cast of three flies to a dry cast of one 
fly, so that I have discarded altogether the 
flat, even line, for one that is tapered at 
both ends, commonly known as a dry fly 
line. Those fly fishers who are still using 
untapered lines have a treat in store for 
them, the first time they try the tapered. 
The flat lines I have used in the past 
were stiff, sticky, kinky and heavy, due, I 
imagine, to but a single or double coat of 
thick varnish. The stickiness does not de¬ 
crease with time, unless used a good deal. 
When I speak of heavy lines, the same 
applies to either the fine or thick line. 
Most of the so-called silk trout lines, espe¬ 
cially those of heavier weight, are silk 
veneered—that is—the outside covering is 
silk but the larger inside body is com¬ 
posed of another material than silk. I 
cannot tell if lines would be better if they 
were of pure silk, but they certainly would 
be better if given more than one coat of 
varnish, rubbed down each time with a suf¬ 
ficient period allowed for proper drying. 
Several well-known expert dry fly an¬ 
glers have said to me “they would never 
dream of using any but imported tapered 
lines for the finer art of trout fishing.” 
American line makers ought to make such 
opinions impossible by producing as good, 
if not better than the very best English 
lines. I confess such statements have ac¬ 
tual truth to back them. Having in the 
past used domestic-made lines exclusively, 
I lately came to be the possessor of an 
English “Hardy dry fly line, known as the 
‘Corona S'uperba’—35 yards, No. G.” It 
was won on a bet that Wilson would suc¬ 
ceed himself as President. Sure enough, 
this Hardy line is a gem. Like velvet to 
the touch, not a trace of stickiness, slides 
through the guides as if greased; light in 
the air, after the day’s use, yet still un¬ 
soaked. Tapered to a fineness to be safe 
that trout are unscared, yet unweighty 
enough to keep from sinking, or bellying 
down below. These are the qualities, I 
conceive, to be a perfect line. Mr. Perry 
Fraser—one-time editor of this paper, has 
studied this subject carefully and is now, 
I understand, making a very good dry fly 
line, though as yet I have not had the 
chance to test one. I wish him success to 
achieve and produce one, equal, if not bet¬ 
ter than those which can be imported. 
The article next month will contain some 
pertinent suggestions concerning rods. 
