RODS. LINES. 431 



venient to carry, and the jointed rods are now brought to such 

 perfection, that I feel assured they will answer every purpose of the 

 spliced rods, besides being mucli more portable. The Irish fly-rods 

 are screwed together at each joint, and are much more elastic than 

 the English rods. 



THE TROLLING ROD 



Should be very strong, and not less than twelve or more than sixteen 

 feet in length, with large rings upon it, that the line may run freely. 



The rod for spinning a minnow or bleak should be of bamboo cane, 

 and from eighteen to twenty feet long, with a tolerable stiff top ; the 

 rings should be placed at a moderate distance from each other, and 

 be of the middle size. 



The barbed rod, for angling with the ledger-bait, should have a 

 stiff top, and be about eleven or twelve feet in length ; but for float- 

 fishing it must be much lighter and something longer. 



The rod for Roach and Dace should be of bamboo cane, and, if for 

 bank-fishing, from eighteen to twenty feet long ; but if for angling 

 from a punt, not more than eleven or twelve feet. It must be very 

 light, perfectly taper, and of a proper degree of elasticity, as the 

 angler's success in Roach and Dace fishing will depend upon his 

 dexterity and quickness in striking when he has a bite. Many anglers 

 never fish without running-tackle, that they may be always prepared 

 to encounter a large fish ; but they must not hope to meet with the 

 same sport in Roach and Dace fishing as those do who use a light rod 

 without rings, and a short line, when the chance of striking your fish is 

 much more certain. 



LINES. 



The best lines for running-tackle are composed of silk and hair, of 

 different degrees of strength and thickness, according to the purpose 

 for which they are intended. For Salmon fishing, a strong winch or 

 pirn, large enough to contain from eighty to one hundred yards of 

 line, is requisite, and for Trout a brass reel, containing from thirty to 

 forty yards of line, gradually tapering to a few hairs at the end, where 

 a foot-link of gut containing the flies is to be fixed. 



