Featherweight tackle is the answer to a vexing problem that confronts the trout angler -- the problem of how to catch fish consistently on public waters that are being whipped by a constantly increasing number of fishermen.

Fish become wary and wise when under constant bombardment and when their home waters are continually disturbed. Big lures, presented with a heavy hand, frighten them instead of attracting them.

Key to successful angling in this situation is the use of small, delicate trout lures -- and they call for light tackle.

Each year -- as spring advances into summer and water levels drop, and temperatures rise, and more and more flies are offered to them -- trout become increasingly selective. Except for occasional periods when they seem to let down their guard, they become more and more shy of large and gaudy flies. Shadows cast by heavy lines put them on guard, and sloppy handling of heavy tackle sends them scurrying to cover.

Use of small, sparsely hackled flies is the proper strategy. They are not so obviously artificial for one thing, and so will stand closer inspection by the trout. At the same time, they can be cast more delicately, alighting on the water with the gentleness of a natural insect.

Sparsely tied wet flies are especially necessary under such conditions, for when a fly is subjected to close inspection, heavy hackle is not a good imitation of the half dozen legs of a natural insect.

Small and delicate trout flies call for tackle that matches. Heavy rods, lines, and leaders will offset all the advantages of their use, for such heavyweight tackle will defeat the very purpose of the angler to offer trout his lures in as natural a manner as possible.

A fly rod that weighs three or four ounces is ideal. It enables the fisherman to use a light line, and the lighter the line the smaller the shadow it casts as it floats on low, clear water.

Small flies also demand fine leaders, so these also fit into the whole pattern of using the lightest possible tackle. Many fishermen have learned by actual experience that the simple tactic of changing to a longer, finer leader can bring strikes from trout that have refused to become interested in both sunken and floating flies.

With the above stated, tackle and lures will not, in themselves, catch more fish. The angler himself has an important role to play. He must use his featherweight equipment properly.

He must practice and practice until he can make a dry fly alight on the water like a bit of thistledown; until he is able to "reach out" long distances with fly; until he acquires the skill to place his lures in those hard-to-fish spots in which game fish take refuge from their human tormentors.

Wading and stumbling about in a trout stream will more than offset the effectiveness of a perfect trout fly.

While use of featherweight tackle will increase the angler’s ability to catch fish, that is not its whole purpose.

Every trout fisherman hopes to catch big fish. And every trout fisherman has the experience of catching comparatively small fish most of the time, especially if far-off angling paradises are beyond his reach and he is forced to do most of his angling in home waters.

Light tackle can change all that.

A trout a foot long can make things interesting for a fisherman using a three-ounce rod and very light, fine leader. And, after all, it is the thrill of the battle with a hooked fish that makes fishing the favorite sport of so many millions of men, women and children.