THE JOLLY ANGLER. 



53 



you have a Rod made for you, as it will keep the line 

 close, and prevent the Rod from having more stress on 

 one part than another; your winch should fasten on as 

 before described. In Fly-fishing always fix your joints 

 tight together, and wind a bit of silk round the hitches 

 which are placed there for that purpose, or you will be 

 apt to throw part of your Rod in the water; some use 

 screw joints; I do not approve of them, for this reason 

 when the Rod has been screwed tight together several 

 times it will turn a little further round than it did at first, 

 which takes the rings with it, and of course they no longer 

 are in a straight line. As the fine joint of your Rod is 

 very liable to accident in Fly-fishing, always have a spare 

 top in the butt, which is hollow * for that purpose ; many 

 anglers have a short iron spear to fit in it, so that they 

 may stick it in the ground when they want to change their 

 fly. &c. ; the thing of the first importance in a Fly Rod 

 is, that it should play or bend regularly all the way down 

 to the hand, and not appear weaker in one part than an- 

 other; you may have two spare tops if you like, one stiff 

 for Minnow-fishing; but I know from experience that the 

 fine top is best, when you use a worm. 



There are common Rods, made of hazel or bamboo, 

 that, come cheaper, and answer very well for common 

 purposes, but as I seldom use the snap-hook for Jack, 

 (which requires a very strong Rod,) the only ones I keep 

 are the Bag and Fly Rod, with one that shuts up in imita- 

 tion of a walking-stick, for occasional use near town. 



THE WINCH, 



which should be a multiplying one, as it 

 winds up the line three times as fast as 

 a common one, a thing of consequence 

 when a fish runs in towards you, as well 

 as in Fly-fishing, where you are apt to 

 have 16 or 20 yards of line out when you 

 hook your prize. These Winches should 

 be capable of holding about 30 yards for 

 the Fly Rod, (or the Bag Rod, when 



* Boring the butt prevents its playing quite down to the hand, as 

 it should do, and will only answer with a short-jointed Rod. 



E 3 



