28 TROUT-FISHING FOR THE BEGINNER 



reel attached, a rod should balance at a point 

 not more than 8 inches from the centre of 

 the reel-seat, and if the novice will get the 

 maker so to balance the weapon at the time 

 of purchase, he will acquire a neat, clean 

 style of casting much more quickly and 

 easily than if he used a top-heavy rod such 

 as is so often supplied by the trade. Even 

 if the rod balances at a point under the 

 8 inches, its utility is in no way impaired; 

 all the weight is then in the butt, and being 

 in the hand is consequently not appreciably 

 felt. The addition of a modern light-weight 

 aluminium-alloy reel is no detriment to the 

 balance, but I prefer a rod to balance 

 without a reel attached. If one possesses 

 several rods so balanced, a single reel will 

 suffice for use with all of them. Balance 

 should not be corrected by means of a 

 lighter or heavier reel, but by the addition 

 of weight in the shape of lead let into 

 the butt of the rod. The actual weight of 

 a rod, if correctly balanced, need give the 

 angler very little concern ; a rod, the centre 

 of gravity of which is at the right point, 

 would have to be very heavy indeed before 

 its user would be incommoded by its 

 weight. 

 Rods of from 9 feet to 10 feet 6 in. in 



