TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT 59 



With regard to the rod, of course much depends 

 upon the water for which you are bound — much also 

 upon your individual preference and physique. Some 

 prefer greenheart, some split cane, others a spliced 

 and whippy Castle Connell. One man selects a long 

 heavy rod which will do a good deal of his work for 

 him, another likes one as light as is consistent with 

 the possibility of covering the cast. Personally, I 

 generally use a three-joint fifteen-foot split cane, with 

 patent fastenings and a cork grip, which is both 

 pleasant to the hand and comfortable if it happens to 

 be wet. I like a light weapon, and such a rod, well 

 balanced and well made, will throw a long line and 

 kill a heavy fish ; but I am far from saying that for 

 big rivers, where long casting is required, or for very 

 rocky ones, where great power of guiding the fish is 

 wanted, and it is useful to be able to get well above 

 him, a stouter and longer rod is not preferable. Lord 

 Lovat used to fish with one twenty foot in length ; 

 but a grilse or even a salmon had but a short shrift 

 with him, and not every one has his giant strength. 

 One advantage of having a light rod is that a sea trout 

 gives some fun upon it, whereas he affords little sport 

 upon a heavy one. It is astonishing how light a rod 

 will kill salmon with patient handling and a steady 

 strain. I have taken many — the largest over twenty 



