CHAPTER 11. 

 OF TACKLE, ETC. 



Rod. Line. Keel. Foot Line. Hook. Dubbing Bag. General Direc- 

 tions for making a Fly and a Palmer. Fly Books and Boxes. Creel. 

 Landing Net, et ceteras. Dyes for Feathers. 



LIKE the bow of the Archer, the ROD of the Angler 

 should be duly proportioned in dimensions and 

 weight, to the strength and stature of him who 

 wields it. The strong or tall man, may venture 

 upon a rod about fourteen or fifteen feet long : but 

 to the person who is shorter or less robust, one 

 so short even as twelve or twelve feet and a half, 

 and light in proportion, is recommended, as the 

 command will be sooner obtained, and with very 

 much less fatigue to the arm. The best materials 

 are, ash for the stock, lancewood for the middle, and 

 bamboo for the top ; the but should have a hole 

 drilled down it with a spare top in it, and a spike 

 is made to screw into the end, which will be found 

 useful to stick into the ground, and keep the rod 

 upright, when landing a good fish. The ferrules 

 of brass should fit into each other with screws. 



A good Rod should be such that its pliability 

 may be felt in the hand, yet it should not deviate 

 or droop by its own weight, if held by the but in 

 a horizontal position, more than three or four 

 inches from a straight line. 



