THE WINCH LINE AND GUT.
Now, as to the reel. Notwithstanding that some of the books on fishing
call the multiplying reel an abomination, I always prefer one; finding
that when you hook a fish it is very desirable to have the means of
winding in the slack line quickly should he come towards you. I have
used a two-inch brass multiplier some years, and never, to my knowledge,
lost a fish by its inaction. The revolving plate is a great improvement
on the old windlass.
Messrs. Foster, of Ashbourne, are making an improved winch with a male
screw to fit into the female thread at the butt of the rod, where the
spear is usually fixed. This is a great advantage, as the liability to
get the line entangled is not so great as with a side winch, and it also
enables the angler to make more of the length of his rod by grasping it
lower down.
The best line I know of is the "Acmé," also made by Messrs. Foster. It
is constructed of plaited silk, with a very fine strand of annealed
copper wire running through it. The wire gives a little weight and
stiffness to the line, so that it does not kink or knot up so readily as
one made of all silk, while it is about half the size of the
old-fashioned line made of mixed silk and hair. With this line much
more accurate casting can be made than with one of all silk; and the
late David Foster, the inventor of it, says that by using it he
increased the length of his throw from 29-1/2yds. to 32-1/2yds. with a
single-handed fly rod. But this is extraordinary casting, such as few
can accomplish. At the Casting Tournament, held at Hendon five years
ago, I saw 30yds. 6in. thrown. Anyone who can throw a fly 25yds., clean
and straight, and pitch it within a yard of the object aimed at, may
consider himself a pretty good hand. Where one can do it, ninety-nine
cannot.
The gut or casting line should be moderately stout at the upper part,
and tapered down to the point, and if stained of a dull blue or green
colour is less likely to be seen than when quite white.
I always make up my own casts by picking out suitable lengths of gut and
tying them together by a fisherman's knot, and if anything gives way I
have no one but myself to blame. In cutting off the ends of the gut do
not cut them quite close to the knot, but leave just sufficient to take
hold of with a pair of tweezers. Flatten out the ends by pinching them;
you thus prevent the knot from drawing, and it need not be clumsy. It is
far more economical to use the best gut that can be obtained than to
whip off your flies, or lose a fish, by having a cheaper article.
The whole--rod, running line and casting line, wholly and
separately--should taper from one end to the other, and should be in
thorough proportion to each other, and nothing but experience will
enable one how to ascertain when this is so. If the rod is too stiff for
the line you cannot deliver the latter properly, and if the line is too
heavy for the rod you run the risk of breaking the rod's back; while,
if the gut is too heavy for the line, it will pitch all in a heap, and,
of course, scare the fish.
Flies are commonly made with a loop at the end of the gut, to be passed
through a corresponding loop at the end of the casting line. A much
neater plan is to cut off the loops, or buy your flies without them, and
tie the two ends together as above described.
Flies tied on eyed hooks are a great improvement on the old style. They
are more easily packed, not having that awkward coil of gut attached to
them, which is always so difficult to manage in a book, and which is
almost certain to result in the loss of some flies on a windy day. They
can be readily attached and detached when necessary, and are lighter and
float better, and there is not that friction of the gut at the most
important point, as with flies tied on gut. I have frequently found when
fishing that the fly I particularly wished to use on clear water was
tied on stout gut for rough water, and was larger than my gut cast above
it. This is wrong in principle, but with eyed hooks gut to suit the
water could easily be tied on.
Never go out without a landing-net. The most convenient is that with a
telescopic handle and folding ring. Near the upper end of the outside
part of the handle should be a brass spring hook, to slip over the strap
which crosses your chest towards the left side. When you hook a fish,
you can, without moving the right hand from the rod, lift the
landing-net off with the left hand and throw out the handle ready for
use. A pair of waterproof wading-boots or stockings, a good
pocket-knife, a piece of india-rubber, with which to straighten the gut,
a wicker creel, and something to eat, drink, and smoke, and you are
equipped for a day's sport, with the exception of flies, of which I
shall next treat.