TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



The ultimate breaking strength of any fly-rod is rep- 

 resented by the pounds-strain that is placed upon it which 

 will cause it to fracture or break. 



The maximum safe strain in pounds-pull is repre- 

 sented by the pounds-strain that can be placed upon any 

 fly-rod, which strain when removed, allows the rod to at 

 once return to its straight or normal position without hav- 

 ing received any injury from the applied strain. 



Between the ultimate breaking point and the maxi- 

 mum safe-strain point there is quite a margin; but this 

 margin is of little avail to the angler, because when a rod 

 is subjected to a strain that exceeds the maximum safe 

 strain the elastic limit of the rod is passed, which results 

 in putting a permanent set or bend in the rod. 



It is on this account that the maximum safe strain 

 (pounds-pull) that an angler^s rod will stand without in- 

 jury should necessarily be of great interest to him if he 

 has a good rod and is desirous of keeping it in serviceable 

 condition. 



The best split bamboo fly-rod ever made that was ten 

 feet in length and weighed six ounces, never had a maxi- 

 mum safe strength of over one and one-half pounds. 



This statement will no doubt sound strange to some, 

 nevertheless it is true, and to any angler who believes 

 otherwise, I suggest that he take his own fly-rod and with 

 great care, so as not to injure the rod, see to what a degree 

 the rod will bend in trying to lift a one-half pound weight 

 clear of the ground. 



In making this experiment or test be sure to set up 



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