44 PRACTICAL BAIT CASTING 



backs. It is heavy but strong, lacking the nicest bal- 

 ance, but requires little care ; its action is not as resilient 

 as that of bamboo, but then its ferrules do not come 

 loose and rattle if kept in a steam-heated room where 

 many rods must be stored between seasons. In short, 

 the once-in-a-while fisherman who intends to buy one 

 rod will make no mistake in getting one of steel. They 

 make good knockabout rods for any caster, no matter 

 how many fine bamboo or wood rods he may possess. 



Steel rods are especially recommended for use where 

 heavy fish predominate such as certain northern muskie 

 and pike waters or in Southern States where the bass 

 run very large. Of course, in recommending steel 

 rods we refer only to the best grade which is guar- 

 anteed. 



The steel rod was a long time in coming. Early ex- 

 periments with the tubular steel rods showed that 

 they would not withstand a twisting motion or side 

 strain. Finally this difficulty was overcome by making 

 the rod in tubular form, but not brazing the edges to- 

 gether. 



The medium grades are fair, but the cheap steel 

 rods, and the market is flooded with them, are to be 

 avoided even more than cheap bamboo. The average 

 model in a good grade, equipped with German silver 

 guides and agate tip-top, retails at about $5oo. The 

 light weight construction, with same fitting, at $6.00, 

 and depending upon the quality of fittings such as all 



