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ANGLING NOTES:THE MOST important piece of equipment for fly fishing is a good fly line, the author and professional flycasting instructor Peter O’Reilly told a group of angling hacks and guests at the launch of Tinnahinch Fly Fishing Centre, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, last Friday week.

“It must be matched to the size of fly. You would not transport a steamroller on a light pick-up truck,” he said. “So it is with fly lines. It is not practical to use a very heavy outfit to cast small flies.” He continued: “The taper on a fly line was invented by one of Oliver Cromwell’s generals. After failing dismally abroad, Cromwell cast him into the Tower of London for 12 years. During his stint in the Tower one of his ideas was to put taper on a fly line. As a fanatical fisherman he felt this would be helpful to have thick line turning over thinner line.