CHAP. xi. Selection of Rod. 167 



giving the strike, and slower again in stopping it, in short, you neces- 

 sarily take longer in overcoming the greater vis inertia of the heavier 

 rod, whether it be in setting it in motion or in stopping its motion or 

 momentum. Some trout fishermen prefer a i4-ft. rod for trout-fishing 

 on the ground that they can cover so much more water and keep 

 farther away from the fish. That is true enough, but if they would only 

 consider the above, and try it, they would find that they dare not use 

 nearly such fine tackle, because it is simply impossible even in the most 

 accomplished hands to strike as lightly. As I have insisted elsewhere, 

 under Mahseer fishing, that you must accommodate the strength of 

 your tackle to the pliability of your rod, so here also the converse holds 

 in striking your fish, which is again the converse of your fish striking 

 you, that you must accommodate your rod to the strength of your 

 tackle, accommodate it both in pliability and in lightness : in pliability 

 to allow of the line running readily, in lightness to allow of the wrist 

 having a complete mastery. Of course there is a mean. If the trout 

 rod is too pliable you cannot strike quickly enough. Therefore I 

 prefer in a trout rod that it should be rather too stiff than too limp, 

 trusting to its lightness to allow of my wrist giving rapidity. In the 

 salmon rod, I prefer greater pliability short of being top-heavy for 

 reasons set forth under Mahseer-fishing, in short, because the Mahseer 

 does not lay a light hand on you but a heavy and a sudden one. For 

 our present friend the Carnatic Carp I prefer a light i4-ft. double- 

 handed trout rod. With that you may use single salmon gut on your 

 flies, but not finer with prudence. 



A single-handed trout rod is a mistake for this sort of fishing as a 

 general rule, because you cannot throw big enough flies nor throw them 

 far enough from the boat for a good day's sport; but if you are tired, as 

 I have been, with wielding a heavy rod all day, and want just a little 

 sportive dalliance in the evening, and are content to confine your 

 attentions to water in which a long throw is not necessary, you may 

 have the refinement of sport by killing 5~lb. fish on a small trout rod 

 that will not lift a quarter of a pound off the ground. 



I have not had opportunities for fishing for the Carnatic Carp on 

 other rivers than the Bawanny, an affluent of the Cavery, and I have 

 only fished some 20 or 30 miles of the river, above and below 

 Metapolliam, particulars of which will be found in the chapter on 

 Fishing Localities. But I have recognized the same fish caught in nets 



