THE ROD 37 



cned steel guides are much harder, and therefore bet- 

 ter than those of German silver. 



Too many guides should be avoided as they tend 

 to retard the line, but they should be close enough 

 together to make the line follow the curve of the rod 

 when a strain is put on it. Guides too far apart per- 

 mit the line to jump directly from one guide to the 

 next, putting too much strain at one place on the line 



and rod. 



WINDINGS 



Windings are put on a rod to hold the pieces to- 

 gether, in case of a split rod, and they have some ef- 

 fect on the rod's action; also they are ornamental. 

 Most rods have the winding put on in clusters at in- 

 tervals along the rod, and this style seems to answer 

 the purpose very well. Sometimes they are wound 

 diagonally or diamond-shaped, the theory being that 

 they make the rod stronger. Our experience with 

 spiral wound rods is limited so we are unable to say 

 whether or not they are an improvement on the clusters. 



Some rods are wrapped solid the entire length which 

 no doubt produces a rod of enormous strength, but the 

 "solid silk" rods we have used have the "smooth" 

 action of a good wood rod rather than of bamboo. 

 Color of windings is a matter of personal taste. 



STYLE 



In determining the style of rod we have two things 

 to consider: Action or casting efficiency and conveni- 





