THE PIKE. 



^5' 



deal less. If the angler will consider a moment he will find 

 there is more in this than mere theory, for I have seen good 

 pike lines utterly ruined in a very short time by grinding in. 

 a butt ring fixed in close proximity to the reel. Shortly, 

 then, we will say there should be one ring on the butt of a 

 pike rod as near the fermle as possible, three rings on the 

 centre joint, and four without counting the end ring on the 

 top, and the nearer to the tip the closer to each other should 

 these rings be. The end ring of all will be all the better if 

 it has also an inner ring of hardened steel or phosphor 

 bronze fitted in it in such a manner that it will revolve or 

 twist round and round. This will also help to preserve the 

 line, as naturally there is considerable wear and friction 

 going on at the extreme end, of a spinning rod especially. 



The winch fittings should be about eight inches from the 

 end of the butt, and these can either be the plain old- 

 fashioned three-ring fittings, or the newer Universal or gradu- 

 ated ones, whichever the fisherman likes, the latter perhaps 

 being slightly the best, as they are so constructed that they 

 will securely hold any size of reel without any of the cane 

 being cut away to form the slot or bed. 



The end of the rod can be finished off with either a brass 

 cap, a hard-wood knob, or an indiarubber button, according 

 to fancy. I like my pike rod to play well in the top — that is, 

 dressed down nice and tapering from the ferrule — because I 

 have found by a lengthy experience in casting that the throw 

 is cleaner, easier, and more accurate if the rod feels stiff and 

 powerful in the lower end of it, and a kind of switch at the 

 tip end. 



There is just one more point I should like to say a few 

 words on, and that it, some anglers recommend this pike rod 

 to have a hollow butt, on purpose to hold the spare top that 

 is not then in use ; but my advice is — don't, decidedly ; be- 

 cause if you notice there are knots or joints at intervals 

 down this cane that gives it its strength and rigidity. If 

 these are cut away by being bored out, the butt is likely to 

 splinter up and crack after being in use some little time. 

 And then again a pike rod top, with its fair sized rings and 

 top ring would want a butt of more than ordinary thickness 

 to comfortably carry it. 



