ROD TAPERS AND ROD PLOTTING 101 



C to from 2^/2 to %2 of an inch in diameter at its 

 . tip. 



You will want two fly tops and two bait tops for 

 this rod, top-joints being always supplied in dupli- 

 cate with rods from the dealer's as they are the 

 parts most frequently broken. Sample dimensions 

 for the short, bait-casting rod mentioned above will 

 be given later. 



We now have planned a ten-foot fly-rod weighing 

 about seven ounces and suitable for heavy fresh- 

 water angling, which with its shorter and stiffer top 

 makes a very effective nine-foot bait-rod. For a 

 second, lighter but very serviceable all-around fly- 

 rod, the writer advises one of nine feet, having a butt 

 caliber of % inch at the handgrasp junction and 

 measuring YIQ inch at tip; and a more flexible rod, 

 of very sweet action but still having plenty of 

 " ginger ", is achieved by using the same size fer- 

 rules while drawing the rod out to a total length of 

 nine and one-half feet, the extra six inches represent- 

 ing an addition at the butt which somewhat in- 

 creases the diameter just above the grasp and 

 especial care being taken to see that the full diam- 

 eters of the whole of the butt-joint are not skimped. 

 To secure the nicest action for fly-rods, do not 

 have the diameter at the butt end of the butt-joint 

 any oversize (unless deliberately so for special, dry- 

 fly work) ; the same caution applies with even more 



