74 The Atlantic Salmon 



Rods 



I am not at all certain that either the rod or 

 the fly are the most important parts of the 

 salmon angler's outfit, so far as the perfection or 

 pattern of either is concerned. Salmon may be 

 taken on flies of almost any pattern, size, or 

 roughness or neatness of manufacture, and a rod 

 may suffice for successful sport and at the same 

 time violate nearly every one of the formulae used 

 by the most eminent makers. Still, a man can 

 fish with much more comfort if he has a rod well 

 balanced, and adapted to his strength and to his 

 manner of casting always supposing he has 

 had experience enough to know a rod that suits 

 him when he has it in his hands. If he has not, 

 he should leave the selection to some more ex- 

 pert friend. A rod for use from the bank should 

 be longer than one used from a boat, as in the 

 latter method of fishing the boat or canoe can 

 almost always be placed within an easy cast of 

 the spot one wishes to reach ; whereas it is fre- 

 quently necessary in fishing from the bank to 

 make casts beyond the scope of a short rod. 

 However, in the latter method of fishing, alto- 

 gether the more attractive and sportsmanlike, 



