ACTION OF A PERFECT TROUT ROD 223 



that the meteorological conditions vary, and consequently 

 influence so differently the building of rods, it will be 

 recognized that no two rods can except by an accident- 

 be made with an exactly similar degree of action, balance 

 weight, elasticity, stiffness and vibration. It is by the 

 educated senses of the experienced fly fisherman alone that 

 an accurate judgment as to the various factors which go 

 to make a good rod can be formed and such a rod selected, 

 that at the close of a day's fishing it will be found as effective 

 and pleasant to use as during the first few moments in which 

 it is handled. Excellent as are my rod builders, and 

 thoroughly as they devote themselves to the work of building 

 my rods, carefully as I test, approve and pass all those rods 

 on which I allow my name to appear, still each rod although 

 all come into one delightful class has its individual balance 

 and action, which makes it heavier and stronger, and which 

 inclines it towards perfection or the reverse. 



To claim, therefore, than any fishing tackle firm has some 

 secret knowledge or method as to rod building, which 

 without that personal testing which I consider necessary 

 will ensure that every rod they may label with some 

 particular name must possess a similarity in its good or 

 bad qualities, is merely bluff, but it is bluff which has 

 deceived, and may still continue to deceive, the novice. 

 Further, it has often this bad effect that a beginner, 

 purchasing a rod, the name of which is supposed to be a 

 guarantee of its excellence, may probably find his casting 

 spoilt and his pleasure marred by a smart looking rod which, 

 after an hour's fishing, will become, from its action on the 

 wrist and forearm, both difficult and painful to use. 



While we owe to the Americans the introduction of split 

 cane that is split bamboo as a material used in the 

 construction of our fishing rods, several of our rod builders 

 may now claim to produce rods equal to, if not better than 



