52 THE JOLLY ANGLER. 



for Perch, or occasionally for spinning a Minnow; this 

 top makes your Rod stiffer than the Roach top. (Now 

 m.nd, when I speak of a Perch top, Roach top, or Troll- 

 ing top, I mean this Rod, with those respective tops on.) 

 For Trolling you should not use the small rings attached 

 to the Rod, but have five larger ones, of this 

 shape, made to fit one on the ferule of each 

 joint, the jack top having the large rings, and 

 the butt, or large joint, not requiring one; these you fix 

 one on each joint as you put the Rod together, taking care 

 the rings stand in a row along the Rod, (a thing you must 

 always have regard to); for fixing the winch on the Rod 

 some use tape, but two brass ferules, which are placed on 

 the Rod by any tackle-maker for a trifling amount, answer 

 the purpose much better. 



The next article I shall describe is the Fly Rod; this 

 is generally made of hiccory, with a top joint of several 

 pieces joined together, cut out of the solid part of the 

 large bamboo; the butt is sometimes made of ash*. For 

 small rivers, trout streams, &c. 1 should recommend a 

 single-handed Rod of three joints, about 13 feet long, as 

 that Rod will bend regular, and is lighter than one loaded 

 with ferules every two or three feet, (these ferules never 

 bend with the Rod); for convenience of carriage, a larger 

 number of short joints have a decided advantage. In large 

 rivers, where you use both hands to hold your Rod when 

 throwing your line, it should then be made of a greater 

 length, say from 16 to 18 feet; this sort of Rod may be 

 used in the Lea, Colne, and many other rivers, though for 

 Salmon they are sometimes used larger and stronger ; but 

 for general use, I think a Fly Rod of about 15 or 16 feet 

 the best length. Have the rings pretty close together, if 



* I am writing on Angling, not Fishing-tackle Making, begin- 

 ning, as many authors do, with, " When to cut your sticks," &c. ; 

 all 1 know on that subject is, that Bamboo, Hiccory, and Carolina 

 Cane make the b st Rods, and 1 have no time to go to America or 

 the Indies to cut my sticks. Near London the angler need neither 

 learn to make rods nor lines; he cnn purchase them at an easier 

 rate (unless he has nothing els;- to do) ; as far as remedying any 

 accident that the angler is liable to, in breaking a joint of his rod, 

 &c. or tying a hook, 1 will give, as I go on, such information as 

 lies in my power. 



