TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



the purchaser expects to secure a rod that will prove even 

 passably satisfactory. 



By all means avoid rods with fancy windings, and 

 under no circumstances purchase a rod that has not a 

 solid, well-made cork handle. 



When selecting a fly-rod let it be a hand-made one, 

 either nine feet six inches or ten feet long, with bronze 

 snake guides and a skeleton reel seat, and do not pay less 

 than fifteen dollars for such a rod if you really want to 

 get a good one. 



After selecting a rod you will find it will be worth 

 many times the cost if you have an agate tip ring guide 

 and an agate butt ring guide put upon the rod in place of 

 the metal guides already there. 



This substitution of agate guides will make your line 

 last longer and keep it in better condition, as well as make 

 casting and the playing of a fish much easier, especially 

 when a fish is lightly hooked or when fishing in the rain 

 or when fishing on a fast running turbulent stream. 



Having once fished with these two agate guides on 

 your rod you probably will never again have any other 

 kind on rods used for fly-fishing. 



"The proof of the pudding is in the eating." 



Good hand-made fly-rods are usually carried in stock 

 by a number of reputable tackle concerns in nearly all 

 large cities; they range from eight feet and six inches to 

 ten feet in length, and from three and one-half ounces to 

 six and one-half ounces in weight. 



Fly-rods other than split bamboo are to be had, and 



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