CHAPTER III 

 THE ANGLER'S OUTFIT 



1. The rod. 



The beginner will be well advised to com- 

 mence with a sound but simple outfit ; with this 

 let him practise diligently, since experience 

 is the best teacher. 



The rod is the most important item and 

 should be chosen with care. For all-round 

 work on stream or lake, a rod of from 9 feet 

 to 10 feet 6 inches will be found suitable. A 

 stiffish fly-rod will suffice also for both minnow 

 and worm fishing, until such time as the 

 novice has become proficient, and hankers 

 after special tools. 



" Built " rods, or, in other words, rods 

 made of strips of split bamboo glued or 

 cemented together, are expensive, but they 

 possess certain advantages over wooden 

 rods. As the outer skin of the bamboo is 

 preserved intact, wet has little effect upon 

 it; and on account of the straightness of 



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