6 THE FISHING-ROD ; 



material of which bottom rods are made also 

 varies ; in general bamboo is preferred by rea- 

 son of its lightness and elasticity, though for 

 some purposes of bottom fishing too elastic a 

 rod is not desirable. To a bottom rod gene- 

 rally belong two or three top pieces of different 

 degrees of strength ; and it is sometimes ringed 

 throughout, and furnished with a reel and run- 

 ning line, and also with a spike. 



The walking-stick rod is, to some persons, a 

 very handy and useful article, particularly to 

 the angler who has to trudge some distance 

 on foot to his fishing quarters. It is of neces- 

 sity a very light article, and not often very 

 strong. 



In general it is made of bamboo, and each 

 piece is received one within the other, as a 

 telescope ; and the lower end being capped with 

 a ferrule it forms a stout walking-stick, with 

 the necessary pieces inside for forming a light 

 fishing-rod. 



Bag rods are merely light rods in small short 

 pieces, or joints, of about two feet in length ; 

 they are usually made of cane, and are well 

 adapted to light fishing in small streams. The 

 advantage and object of the bag rod is, that it 



