THE BAIT-CASTING ROD 21 



aside from which it is made from six strips of choice 

 bamboo, perfectly joined together. I know of no 

 rod its equal. Were action the only matter for us 

 to consider, the discussion of the number of joints 

 would cease right here, but unfortunately there are 

 several other elements entering into the problem. 



The chief reason why we build our casting rods 

 with two or more sections is simply a matter of con- 

 venience. It is hard to imagine a more difficult 

 article to pack or "tote" than a slender, easily broken 

 stick, 5 feet, 6 inches long. It will refuse to enter a 

 trunk, will not slip under an auto or buggy seat, and 

 is in every one's way on board train. Always the 

 owner is haunted with the fear of a broken rod, some 

 one may step on it if placed on the floor, and in the 

 tent it is more in the way than a poodle dog. But in 

 the boat, when bass are rising, or long and difficult 

 casts are required, its possession is a pure and 

 unalloyed pleasure. For the home or permanent 

 fishing camp, by all means the one piece rod, but for 

 convenience in transporting, something else. 



There is another reason why it is the part of 

 wisdom to build rods with more than one section. 

 It is exceedingly difficult to procure material "clear" 

 enough and straight enough to make a rod all one 

 piece. Every amateur rod maker has discovered 

 that a strip of bamboo ofttimes may be cut to advan- 

 tage, leaving out knots and blemishes which make 

 for weakness; consequentially the short joint rod 



