"The Angler's Equipment" 147 



which I have never forgotten, such a rod. 

 " They are owre ' steely ; they greenheart 

 rods." Anglice, "They are too steel-like 

 in their action." And, as I was using at 

 the time a greenheart rod, built by an 

 English maker, whilst " Will" stood looking 

 on, I felt how exactly it conveyed to me 

 the idea then uppermost in my mind, and 

 as no word had ever done before. The 

 length and weight of a rod must necessarily 

 depend upon the power of the angler's wrist 

 and forearm, as also, doubtless, upon his 

 experience or non-experience as a fly- 

 fisher. 



The beginner, let me remark, should 

 never begin with a rod which he cannot 

 wield with ease to himself. If he does, he 

 cannot expect to make rapid progress, nor 

 will he get into a good style of fishing; 

 for the man whose rod is too long and too 

 heavy for his comfortable use, is continually 

 scheming how he can ease his tired muscles, 

 a thing which is quite fatal to good casting, 

 and even more so to neat " striking." The 

 " strike " should come from the angler's 

 wrist, never from the arm. A man may 

 have a powerful arm, yet possess a weak 

 hand and wrist ; but, whoever strikes with 

 his arm, is certain to do it clumsily, and 



