36 BALANCE OF RODS. 



(provided it is otherwise well graduated and 

 apportioned), than the other way ; as the latter is 

 particularly objectionable in fighting a heavy fish, 

 especially in dangerous water or from off a rooted 

 bank ; as it is also during windy weather. Neither 

 is it possible to throw a large and consequently 

 heavy fly with a very pliable rod. And whatever 

 other doctors of fishing may say, I know from 

 experience that it is as easy to cast a fly lightly 

 with a stiff as with a pliant rod. I must leave 

 this entirely to the fly-fisher's choice and judg- 

 ment; not omitting, however, to mention that 

 Mr. Eaton, of Crooked-lane, tells me, that of late 

 years he finds stiff fly-rods of every description 

 preferred, and from the quantity he sells weekly 

 he is some authority upon the subject. Too great 

 a degree of elasticity is now generally looked upon 

 as the fault of Irish rods, and I do not certainly 

 recommend them for that reason. I do not go so 

 far as the authors of the work I have before 

 referred to, who condemn rods, " pliable almost 

 down to the hand," because I consider the term 

 altogether indefinite. Every rod ought to play, 

 in fact, " quite down to the hand," or else it cannot 

 be well proportioned ; but, mark the distinction, it 

 should not, " seem" to "bend down to the hand," 

 and then the advice is good. 



Mr. Ronalds says, that a rod held horizontally 



