FISHING THE PACIFIC 



the idea from some of their superfine fresh-water rods in 

 which field, along with Leonard, Heddon, Orvis, and Bill 

 Southam of Sydney, Australia, they are supreme. 



Hardy introduced the felt grips on salt-water rods, pio- 

 neered the roller tip, high guide, locking ferrules, and super- 

 power reel seat, supplying a strong and sturdy butt and a 

 wrench with every rod to lock the reel in place. The only 

 fault that most American anglers found with these butts was 

 that they did not have a locking device for American-made 

 gimbels. Although this slight oversight has never bothered 

 me, as I do not have trouble with the rod or butt twisting or 

 turning, it has been a source of annoyance to some anglers, 

 particularly women. 



Hardy put an agate guide with a very fine protector on 

 these rods, the only agate guides I would ever dream of using; 

 but even at that, there is no use taking a chance when it's 

 unnecessary. Hardy also were the first manufacturers to 

 come out with heavy 54-thread rods that had eight guides 

 and when I looked at them always reminded me of the British 

 battleships Rodney and Nelson. Whenever I used one my 

 back always felt as if I had been hit by a salvo from the 

 Rodney such as the Bismarck received when that grand old 

 ship caught up with her. 



This rod had much too much power for me, but Ernest 

 Hemingway could handle it as he would 33/6 outfit. 



I feel that the choice of surf rods is best left to the angler's 

 judgment. Personally I use Tumas and still have a couple of 

 Vom Hofe's left. I have used a good many other kinds. On 

 the North Atlantic coast numerous tackle shops put out 

 bamboo and glass rods, all of them pretty good sticks. The 



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