THE SPINNING BAIT AND ITS TACKLE 141 



are very beautiful weapons and exceedingly strong, 

 but they are somewhat delicate for winter use. None 

 the less, if expense is no object, a good built-up cane 

 rod is the one I should choose. Whatever rod we 

 decide on should be fitted with several top-joints of 

 different lengths, for with a light bait and fine tackle 

 the top, at least, should be more lissom than when 

 we are using stout tackle and big baits, and have to 

 strike hard. 



The rings of a spinning rod are of considerable 

 importance. The best are known as bridge-rings ; 

 these are upright, should be large, and give infinitely 

 better results for spinning purposes if fitted with a 

 nicely-smoothed interior ring of phosphor-bronze. 

 Snake rings are good, but it is always desirable to 

 have a bridge-ring on the butt. The phosphor-bronze 

 rings are held in position by a groove on their outer 

 edge, and if a little oil is put in this groove from time 

 to time they are easily turned round, so that when 

 one portion begins to wear the line can be made to 

 run over another part of the metal. For the top-ring 

 I have never found anything answer better than one 

 I invented some years ago, which works on pivots 

 and adapts itself to whatever angle the line makes to 

 the rod. Whatever top-ring is used should be fitted 

 with an interior ring of phosphor-bronze. Fixed 



