A GOOD ROD 5 



will for the preliminary lessons be preferable ; neither 

 need he purchase an expensive outfit. He must, 

 however, possess a rod, reel, and line, and it will be 

 well for him to get these three articles from a good 

 maker. I shall content myself by advising the student 

 to go to any good English firm and select a split-cane 

 rod between 9 feet 6 inches and 10 feet in length, 

 and from 5 to 9 ounces in weight. It must be well 

 balanced and not too whippy, and is all the better 

 for being fitted with a " spear." A good rod of this 

 description, if carefully selected, should last a lifetime. 

 It will retain a larger share of the affection, fill more 

 of his life, and, in short, be more to the keen fisherman 

 than a good and favourite gun to the shooting man, 

 a time-honoured bat to the cricketer, a cue to the 

 billiard-player, or a racket to the tennis-player, etc., 

 and hence the importance of getting the identical 

 rod which will best suit the touch and power of the 

 angler.* 



The same may be said, though in a lesser degree, 

 of the reel. 



The reel should be light and strong, with a fairly 

 large winding barrel, a regulating check, and capable 

 of holding plenty of line ; it should be as sweet in tone 

 and as pleasant to manage as a good wife. Thirty 

 to forty yards of medium fine silk tapered line, 

 dressed under a vacuum pump, will complete his first 

 outfit. 



I am going to assume that the reader knows how to 

 * For further hints on the selection of a rod see Chapter V. 



