CHAPTER XII 



THE ACTION AND QUALITIES OF A PERFECT 

 TROUT ROD 



Baden-Powell and testing rods A mechanical test The hand test 

 A correct method of testing The action The consideration of 

 a stiff and of a whippy action in a fly rod The perfect rod The 

 treatment of a fly rod Tournament rods Points to remember 

 when selecting a rod The virtues or otherwise of a dry fly rod. 



IT will be generally admitted that as regards the construction 

 of the weapons and appliances used in the various fields of 

 sport, none can excel, and very few equal, in science and 

 delicacy of their make, the modern split cane fly rod, the 

 tapered line and casts, the reels, artificial flies, etc., etc., 

 which are now used in fly fishing. 



It is necessary, however, to consider most carefully, not 

 only the qualities which constitute a perfect fly rod, but the 

 difficulties which beset the judicious selection of one. 



BADEN POWELL AND TESTING RODS 



A method of testing some of the qualities of a fly rod 

 was introduced and advocated some years ago by, I think, 

 Mr. W. Baden-Powell, K.C. These theories were exhaus- 

 tively examined and discussed in the sporting press, etc. 

 The originator of this method of testing a rod suggested 

 that the butt end of the rod should be securely fixed in some 

 mechanical holder, the rod being inclined to the horizontal 

 at various angles, and that a definitely considered weight 

 should be suspended from its top ring, the idea being that 

 the curvature of the rod, the exact distance extended 

 horizontally by this plummet on a base line, and its rate of 



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