TROLLING RODS. 31 



CHAP VI. 



Rods proper for Trolling or Jack and 

 Pike Fishing, and how to Troll without 

 a Rod, with Directions how to mend a 

 Broken Rod with Cuts. 



A good trolling rod should be made of the choicest 

 stout and well-seasoned bamboo cane, in length it should 

 not be shorter than fourteen feet, but sixteen is more de^ 

 sirable, if your tackle-maker can furnish cane every way 

 fit for the purpose of striking true, and not too heavy, 

 yet sufficiently strong. When trolling with the gorge, 

 or live-bait fishing, a long rod is necessary, to enable the 

 angler to drop in his baited hook over high sags, rushes, 

 &c. and also if the water is bright, he should then keep 

 as far away from it as he possibly can, which a long rod 

 enables you to do, while dipping, casting, or spinning 

 your bait, for if either a Jack or Pike see you, it is very 

 rare indeed that he will then take your bait. And again, 

 with a long rod you will be able to drop your baited 

 hook in some very likely place for a Jack or Pike to lay, 



