RODS, LINES, HOOKS, &C. 



CHAP. II. 



On Rods, Lines, Gut, Hair, and Hooks. 



As the angle-rod is a material article in the Angler's 

 catalogue, great care should be taken to procure a 

 good one. The fishing-tackle shops keep a great 

 variety, made of bamboo, cane, hazel, hickery, &c. and 

 of different lengths ; some fitted as walking canes, and 

 others to pack in canvas bags ; the latter are to be pre- 

 ferred, because you may have them of any length, and 

 they are made more true, and are stronger ; the rods 

 made to pass for walking canes seldom exceed 12 feet, 

 which is, generally speaking, too short 5 those made of 

 bamboo-cane are best for general fishing, having seve- 

 ral tops of various strengths ; but the rods made of the 

 white cane are much superior for fine fishing, particu- 

 larly for Roach, being very light in weight, yet stiff. 

 In choosing a rod, observe that it is perfectly straight 

 when all the joints are put together, and that it gradu- 

 ally tapers from the butt to the top, and is eighteen feet 

 long ; if longer, they seldom play true. Some strong 

 and fit for trolling ; others for Barbel, Perch, &c. -, all 

 of which should have rings on every joint, and some 

 finer for Roach, &c. Rods fitted with several tops, all 

 packing together, are certainly very convenient, when 

 taken on a distant journey j but the Angler who wishes 



