20 CASTING TACKLE AND METHODS 



reason why the average rod maker seldom tries out, 

 or at least reports trying out, native stock. There 

 is rare fun in experimenting with new rod materials, 

 a discovery which every amateur workman should 

 make, and so long as we can not find such rods upon 

 the market, we, perforce, must learn to build them 

 for ourselves. As aids to rod making I would urge 

 my reader to secure Frazer's "The Angler's Work- 

 shop," and Wells' "Fly Rods and Fly Tackle." 



NUMBER OF JOINTS 



When it comes to discussing the number of joints 

 into which the casting rod may be divided there is a 

 great diversity of opinion, though there is no ques- 

 tion but that the one piece rod is the ideal. Far and 

 away the best wood rod, no matter what the ma- 

 terial, is the one made from a single piece of wood. 

 This can not be successfully contradicted. It stands 

 to reason, if given a perfect section of rod material, 

 solid wood or split-bamboo, with grain running from 

 hand-grasp to tip-top, well built and accurately 

 mounted, that such a rod will possess better action 

 than the one made up of two or more sections. 

 Wherever a ferrule is introduced is a point of weak- 

 ness, all can see that. I am a believer in and a 

 lover of the one piece rod. I own one which I 

 honestly think it would be impossible for any maker 

 to excel, so perfect is it in action and "feel;" the 

 hand-grasp, eight inches long, slips from the rod, 



