TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT 59 



With regard to the rod, of course much depends 



upon the water for which you are bound much also 



upon your individual preference and physique. Some 



prefer greenheart, some split cane, others a spliced 



and whippy Castle Connell. One man selects a long 



heavy rod which will do a good deal of his work for 



him, another likes one as light as is consistent with 



the possibility of covering the cast. Personally, I 



generally use a three-joint fifteen-foot split cane, with 



patent fastenings and a cork grip, which is both 



pleasant to the hand and comfortable if it happens to 



be wet. I like a light weapon, and such a rod, well 



balanced and well made, will throw a long line and 



kill a heavy fish ; but I am far from saying that for 



big rivers, where long casting is required, or for very 



rocky ones, where great power of guiding the fish is 



wanted, and it is useful to be able to get well above 



him, a stouter and longer rod is not preferable. Lord 



Lovat used to fish with one twenty foot in length ; 



but a grilse or even a salmon had but a short shrift 



with him, and not every one has his giant strength. 



One advantage of having a light rod is that a sea trout 



gives some fun upon it, whereas he affords little sport 



upon a heavy one. It is astonishing how light a rod 



will kill salmon with patient handling and a stead) 



strain. 1 have taken many the largest over twenty 



