148 Wet-Fly Fishing 



will have a long list of casualties. There- 

 fore, I repeat, let the beginner be content 

 to begin with a shortish rod, light and 

 therefore easily managed, of say 10 foot. 

 In the course of time, when he feels equal 

 to it, let him then purchase a rod of 11 

 foot, or even of 11J foot, for the fishing of 

 large rivers ; but, whatever rod he may 

 elect to use, he must be its master. If the 

 rod masters him, he loses rather than gains 

 by the heavier and longer weapon, seeing 

 that he cannot use it to advantage. 



Of late years, the racks and showcases 

 of the fishing-tackle makers' shops exhibit 

 some fly-rods which seem very unlike the 

 rods which old Mrs. Hogg used to sell when 

 I was a young man. Fly-rods then used 

 to taper more or less gradually from the 

 reel-fittings. Now it often appears to me 

 as if the butt of the rod was getting cut 

 down too much, leaving only sufficient 

 substance for the grip and the reel-fittings : 

 and then it jumps at once, into attenuated 

 proportions. I have taken exception to 

 greenheart because of its " steely " action; 

 but, when this is the build of a rod (though 

 the thinning-down of the butt, I grant, 

 does bring the spring of the rod into the 

 hand, and makes the rod necessarily lighter, 



