CHOICE AND USE OF FLY-ROD 45 



You can get a rod (?) at the department store; from 

 a rod maker; from one of the big firms dealing in 

 tackle exclusively; or from one of the general "sport- 

 ing goods " houses. At any of these places, except the 

 first, you can get a good rod if you go about it rightly. 

 It is advisable, however, to purchase the rod either 

 from a professional rod maker or from one of the reg- 

 ular tackle firms. 



Anyone who has attempted to sift out the very 

 best shotgun from the numerous shooting-irons on the 

 market knows that each firm in the gun business sells 

 the only really good gun; and it's the same way with 

 fishing rods. Each of the reliable firms solemnly as- 

 sures you that its rod is the only real fly-rod all 

 others are merely " poles." Of course this is not so, 

 and no one knows it better than the tackle people them- 

 selves. While it is quite true that for tournament 

 casting only one or two firms supply a satisfactory rod, 

 for actual fishing it is possible to get a rod that, per- 

 haps, is entirely too good for you, at any of the best 

 places. Reference to the advertising pages of the bet- 

 ter class of outdoor magazines will give you the ad- 

 dresses of the best tackle dealers and tackle makers. 

 A careful and comparative study of the catalogues of 

 these firms cannot fail to be of advantage. 



If the circumstances are such that you have to 

 buy your rod by mail, it is well to have two rods of 

 the dimensions you require sent you, with privilege of 

 examination, and you can return the one which seems 



