THE COMMON BROWN TROUT. 221 



fishing quite long enough, and one of 12ft. is generally thought sufficient 

 for any purpose. If, however, the user be tall and strong, a 16ft. rod 

 may not be out of the way for fishing broad and rapid streams. The 

 best materials for a fly rod, in my opinion, are ash, lance, and bamboo, 

 but full consideration will be given on this head in the forthcoming 

 chapters on tackle making. Not only also is it necessary to pay atten- 

 tion to the weight and length of the rod, but it is of much higher 

 importance to secure one with perfect taper, and in which the weight in 

 the hand is reduced to a minimum. An illustration of what I mean may 

 be gathered from the hunting field. As I think I have before mentioned, 

 it is a known fact that some riders burden a horse actually pounds less 

 than others not so skilful. Thus with a good rod ; in the hand its 

 perfect balance is at once appreciated, and one has the satisfaction of 

 knowing that weariness in its use comes nob from a fault in its con- 

 struction. 



A rod should never be too weak in the middle, says W. Bailey, of 

 Nottingham, and he quotes an incident which proves the necessity of 

 attention to this point. The author of the "Angler's Desideratum" 

 says, " it (the rod) ought never to be less than twelve to sixteen feet, not 

 bending at the top when held horizontally, but, on the contrary, standing 

 out gracefully from the root to the tip, tremblingly alive to the slightest 

 motion of the hand, vibrating and felt by it at every throw ; it ought 

 not to be supple in the middle nor stiff at the root." Some authorities 

 advocate a stiff rod because of its "great superiority in casting" 

 (Stewart) and striking, and also recommend the use of hickory for the 

 middle joints. Mr. Stewart further advocates the "tie" rod in pre- 

 ference to that in ordinary use with brass ferrules. It is quite a matter 

 of taste, however, and there is a disadvantage in the tied rod, in that 

 it requires such an extraordinary waste of time to get ready. A 13ft. 

 fly rod ought not to weigh much more than fib., or it becomes exceedingly 

 wearisome. Mr. Francis goes in for a double-handed rod always. De 

 gustibus, etc. I can always manage a single handed rod better than a 

 double. 



The rings should be well made and somewhat large ; there is a tendency 

 to reduce the size of these as much as possible for the sake of appear- 

 ance, but it is a mistake which should never be allowed. Each ring on 

 the rod should allow of a threepenny piece being passed through it, and the 

 decrease of size towards the top should be gradual, and not end in rings 

 of less than half this size. They should be of solid brass, and of the 

 form shown in the Tackle section at the end of this treatise. 



The line for ordinary trout fishing should not be too fine, and, on the 

 other hand, it is necessary for it not to be clumsy. The inexperienced 



