THE ANGLER'S GEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20480, 4 February 1930, Page 13

THE ANGLER'S GEAR.

VAEIED FISHING TACKLE,.

SHOPS AND CATALOGUES.}

MULTITUDE OF ATTRACTIONS*.

STdCK FOR ALL PURSES.

BT F. CARR ROLLETT. y . m \

There is not an afigier in any part 'off the world or of any degree who is now interested in fishing tackle. E v en tha unsophisticated savage who fisha, tcr th% pot takes a pride in his gear,' whether!' it bo a lino of coir or a hook "of and has his own particular ideas regard* ing the twist of tho one or the shapfl of the other.

In more civilised countries, with their wealth of invention their unlimited variety of materials, fishing tackle making has risen to a fine art, and there is such! a vast array of rods and lines and lures that the longest purse would be severely] taxed if its owner wished to purchase all that his eye appreciated or his mind dew sired. '

It is difficult to determine which offers tho greatest attraction, a really good tackle-maker's catalogue, or a tackle* selling shop. Speaking personalty, I havato confess that I find the catalogue in* finitely more safe than tho shop. Advantages of Catalogue. One can sit at leisure and go througKa catalogue with its long lists of reels and flies, " split canes" and greenheiris,'* gaffs and landing nets, and can even mark in a bold manner the articles that on»' would like to have, yet there is no conn pulsion to buy. On the other hand, I find it absolutely dangerous to enter ai. good tackle shop, for, when I see arid handle the many things I feel I ought!to have, my longing is too great for th«> shortness of my purse. We have sonio excellent fishing tackld' shops in New Zealand. Anglers froraf England or America, the two greatest tackle-making countries in the world, caS come here and find probably as great aa assortment of requirements (I use thi*. word purposely) as they could find in anv one shop in their homelands, and theitv owners also issue very attractive cata* logues, but I have to acknowledge thatiin this respect the older countries surpass us beyond all count. Some of the Old Country catalogues*, are as lengthy as a three volume novel,,, and a great deal more interesting. They are more richly illustrated than a costly;' book of art, and yet they are given away gratis. What fascination there is itf'. their coloured pages of flies, what oppor* tunity for study and comparison. Looki at a Black Midge or a Jenny Spinner and follow on to Durham Rahger or. Silver Doctor. Notico the difference between dry flies and wet flies, salmon flies and trout flies, each one a perfect) picture, yet e,ach markedly different. Multitude of Attractions. Flies, of course, are so important to the real angler that tackle shops keep them in the most prominent- places, usually in very elaborate glass cases, and this is the reason why they are displayed so I artistically and so expensively in the cata-. logues. But what a multitude of other i things there are to be found in such' t books, even in connection with flies. There are, for instance, such accessories to the artificial fly as tweezers for tha handling of these delicate creations; dry f fly-driers, dry fly-oilers, and such books > and boxes for flies as ordinary people could ! not imagine. Then., of course, there ara i casts and casts. An experienced angler; [ is almost as particular about his casts as i he is about his flies, and for just as ■ a reason.

The right fly must be selected if on« wishes to catch fish, but the cast must), be of a character to suit the fly, and*, what is perhaps still more important,;, for the holding of the fish when caught* Providing that the fly and the cast ara> of the best, others things scarcely matter.Rods and Reels. Of course, rods'and reels are the most, expensive articles in all tackle shops and show to much better advantage there, than they do in any catalogue, no matter how elaborate it may be. Every angler' likes to have at least,one good rod, and some like to have several. There are. others who like expensive rods, and possess many. The selection of a rod is nearly as im< portant a matter to some as the selections of a wife. It is really a solemn ceremony* As each piece is drawn from its division, in the case it must be minutely examined f grain, finish, taper, rings, wrappings*, joints, all have their import, and when it is put together, the balance, the. pliability, the feel to the hand must bait tested. As to reels, their names and design#, are legion, and nearly as much ingenuity,v has been devoted to their construction a»; to a modern motor-car. Choice of Tackle. As to choice of fishing tackle, neitherelaborate catalogue nor experienced keeperof tackle shop can help the experienced angler, although the latter can give much valuable advice to the amateur. Choice is a matter of individuality, to a large extent, but price counts quite a lot with' most men. One can get quite a ser-i viceable rod for £5, but lucky individuals, can and do pay from £25 to £4O for rodsk of special make, and it is much the sam with reels.

One can get a very useful reel for less, than £l. I have "an old Nottingham, which I have used, arid used hard, for/ forty years for all sorts of work, front brook trout to kingfish and rainbow. Iti, cost mo ton shillings when new, and is, still serviceable, but in modern catalogues' you can see deep-sea reels marked up to, £l3 and ordinary trout reels up to £5 and £7. .

It is the study of such creations aSthese that makes* the tackle-seller's cata« logue so interesting to me. I like tc». imagine the joy of fishing with a twenty* guinea split cane made specially for my, own particular needs and a five-guinea, reel with a perfectly governed check and exactly the right music when a fish is running. It gives a man confidence to, have the very best- of fishing g<>ar, bub', to those who cannot afford such I may, add tho consolation that it is a mark! of high skill to be ablo to take fish on| inferior tackle.