218 THE TROUT ARE RISING 



a wide and an open stream, the 10 ft. rod is 

 recommended. On the whole, for a man who 

 may be fishing first one year in this river, and 

 then another year in that river, or even in several 

 rivers in the same year, 10 ft. is the best all-round 

 length. If plans admit of two rods, then choose 

 one of 10 ft. and one of say 8 ft. or even 7 ft. for 

 little overgrown waters. And if the angler be 

 one who likes plenty of tackle in his den like a 

 housewife who has a well-stocked larder (happily 

 always in use !) then he could go in also for 

 a third rod, and if so I would advise a good 

 dry-fly rod of about TO ft., one from a high-class 

 maker. Shoddy stuff stands self-condemned. It 

 must not be inferred that three rods are recom- 

 mended for South Africa as a necessity. They are 

 not. Many anglers have one fly-rod only ; they 

 have had it practically all their fishing life ; they 

 know its strength, its weakness (if any) ; they 

 have learned to love it ; it always does its best ; 

 and probably it has been the means of catching 

 hundreds and hundreds of trout. The young 

 angler need not worry. If he takes to trout 

 fishing, and is dissatisfied with the rod he 

 possesses, he will sooner or later meet other 

 fishermen ; and he will no doubt be able to get 

 practical hints and information as to various kinds 

 of rods at the riverside. An angler with a good rod 

 is not unwilling nay, he is often rather proud 

 to show it to a beginner. Nor should the beginner 

 be surprised, in case the owner invites him to 

 " have a throw with it," if he catch a fish with 



