OCEAN, LAKE, AND RIVER. 



THE ART OF FLY FISHING. 



Rods, Reels, Lines and Lures. — While verbal instruction is 

 useful to a certain extent, the art of angling cannot be wholly- 

 imparted to the student ; it must be acquired by assiduous practice, 

 and a careful study not only of the implements of the craft and 

 their use, but of the structure and habits of the fish and the local- 

 ities which they inhabit. In a word, the complete angler must be 

 a naturalist, just as a physician must be acquainted with the origin, 

 nature, and properties of the drugs he administers. 



As to implements, we maintain that there are strictly but two 

 distinct classes of fishing rods, the long, slender, tapering, tough, 

 and elastic fly rod, and the shorter and stiffer trolling rod, just as 

 there are but two classes of guns, the rifled and the smooth 

 bore. The bait rod is a compromise between, the fly rod and the 

 trolling rod. It is stiff like the latter, but much longer, (in reality 

 has an additional joint,) and is carefully tapered, so as to secure 

 uniform elasticity and action from but to tip, qualities requisite in 

 the fly rod, but not so carefully developed in the bait rod, be- 

 cause the work required of it is quite different, the methods of 

 casting the bait and the fly being quite as diverse as may be 

 imagined. 



[For full description of bait rods, and instruction in angling with 

 all kinds of baits, which might properly be included in this divis- 

 ion of the Gazetteer, see section on Black Bass fishing in Western 

 Waters, page 3.] 



Difference in the material of which rods are made really con- 

 stitutes variety in rods ; and in the selection and manufacture of 

 this material, excellence consists. A rod of hickory, ash, lance- 



