SELECTION OF RODS 49 



the butt above the portion where it is grasped by 

 the hand. 



The chief point to be attended to in the selec- 

 tion of a rod is to secure sufficient power from the 

 butt to the middle, with a due regard to the neces- 

 sary elasticity. A top-heavy trout-rod may be very 

 powerful, and allow of longer casts being made 

 against a wind, but its own weight wears it out, 

 and tires the user. On the other hand, the reverse 

 will not do, for there is then a lack of power, 

 and the strain is over-much for the top joint, 

 which is necessarily too tapered. The play must 

 extend from the top to the lower half of the 

 middle joint, and the balance in the hand should 

 be so perfect, that in the motion of bringing the 

 rod back after a cast there should be no undue 

 strain on the hand and wrist of the user. 



I may be thought peculiar or stupid, or pecu- 

 liarly stupid, but I find it most difficult to select 

 either a rod or a gun for myself in a shop. I 

 cannot make sure of getting what will suit me 

 until I have tried them, and tried them well the 

 result being that I have often wasted a consider- 

 able amount of money in such purchases, and 

 been consequently disappointed. I would almost 

 prefer to get a friend to make the sejection for 

 me, and I have not infrequently, when choosing a 

 rod in company with a friend, who was also pur- 

 chasing at the same time, afterwards come to the 



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