Salmon (Salmo salar], Rods and Tackle. 



93 



bank-fishing, an i8-ft. rod gives an 

 advantage over a i6-ft. In very 

 swift rivers, such as the Shannon 

 at Castleconnell, where big sal- 

 mon have to be held up to prevent 

 them rushing down-stream and 

 cutting the gut on the rocks, a 

 heavy build is necessary. But 

 such places are the exception. In 

 the great majority of rivers, boats 

 are used or the angler wades, and 

 a light rod is more serviceable. 

 Assuming that it is desirable to 

 kill a fish as soon as possible, it 

 is a mistake to think a heavy 

 rod will be more expeditious the 

 contrary has been my experience. 

 The longer the rod the thicker 

 must be the butt, therefore the 

 less the action of that part. A 

 light rod, working well down to 

 the hand, tells far more quickly 

 on a salmon than a heavy rod, 

 where only the top and middle 

 joints are brought into play. 



The demand is for lighter 

 weapons, and rod makers will be 

 well advised in responding to it. 

 Messrs. Hardy Bros., of Aln- 

 wick, has done so by making 

 a split cane rod, steel centre, 

 which fulfils admirably the con- 

 ditions of lightness with efficiency. 

 It is 16 ft., and weighs only 28 oz. 

 The weight of a rod of this size 

 and make is generally 33 oz. 

 Fitted with a 4-in. " Perfect " 

 reel and No. 5 " Corona " line, 

 1 6 oz. 6 drms. must be added. 

 But the whole weight is only 

 43 oz., as against 50 oz. the 

 average weight of a 16 ft. outfit. 

 The action of this rod throws the 

 play on the butt. At the same 

 time it is by no means whippy, 

 the middle and top joints having a 

 power that makes the line cut 

 through a stiff wind. It is pos- 

 sible to fish all day long with 

 such a weapon without turning 

 pleasure into toil. It is called 

 the " Connemara," and is well 

 adapted to the rivers and loughs 



in that district. Of greenheart 

 makes of salmon rod there is a 

 variety to choose from. The 

 Castleconnell build is well known, 

 of which Messrs. Enright and 

 Son are the principal makers. 

 These rods dispense with ferrules. 

 A splice in the centre of the rod, 

 whipped together, unites the butt 

 and top. Greater unity is claimed 

 for a rod which dispenses with 

 brasses. Be this as it may, they 

 are excellent weapons, much 

 thinner in the butt than the 

 general run of ferrule rods, and 

 consequently lighter and more 

 pliable. 



Of jointed greenheart rods there 

 are many reliable makers. The 

 important thing is to get good 

 material greenheart has a way 

 of breaking in unexpected places. 

 There is only one reason for this 

 defective grained wood. It is 

 most important to procure a rod 

 of carefully selected timber. Many 

 a good day's fishing has been 

 spoiled by an irreparable accident 

 to the middle joint, when twenty 

 miles from a possible remedy. A 

 reel proportionate in size to the 

 rod, and 100 to 120 yards of line 

 are required for salmon fishing. 

 A commoner line may be used for 

 backing. Tanned flax line is very 

 light, takes up little room, and 

 is reliable. Next comes the 

 casting-line, which consists of the 

 best gut, 3 yards long. In grist it 

 varies according to circumstances. 

 For heavy spring fish it cannot be 

 too stout ; for grilse in low summer 

 water it can scarcely be too fine. 



Flies vary in size from 8/0 

 Redditch standard, which are 

 4 in. long, down to No. 8, f in. 

 long (vide illustration). Most 

 rivers .have favourite local pat- 

 terns, which it is advisable to 

 procure when one visits them. 

 Smaller sizes should be mounted 

 as the water falls larger as it 

 rises. Some patterns are uni- 



