166 PRACTICAL BAIT CASTING 



The rod used in tournament work is ordinarily made 

 for the purpose and usually is of bamboo. Lengths and 

 weights vary, but the following description of two rods 

 from a well-known maker's catalog will give one 

 some idea as to what is considered good: 



"Light Single- Piece Rod, for quarter ounce cast- 

 ing* 5/4 f eet l n g> about 4^4 ounces weight, with in- 

 dependent single grasp handle 9 inches long, agate 

 guide next to hand and agate tip." 



"Medium Single-Piece Rod, for half ounce casting, 

 5j4 feet long, about 5j4 ounces weight, otherwise 

 same as above." 



Many tournament casters make their own rods or 

 have them made on their own specifications. The 

 tournament fly rod is an ideal rod for fishing and it is 

 unfortunate that the same can not be said of the 

 tournament bait casting rod. 



An ordinary fishing reel is too sluggish for tourna- 

 ment work and special reels are made for this pur- 

 pose. They are usually jeweled and unless free spool 

 equipped with very small handles to minimize air re- 

 sistance. A high grade tournament reel costs from 

 twenty-five dollars up. 



The line used in tournament casting is oo or ooo 

 white silk, machine twist. Ordinarily this is used 

 with a leader of heavy silk such as A silk thread or the 

 regular braided tournament line. Braided tourna- 

 ment lines test from five to ten pounds and are often 

 used although they are not as popular as formerly. 



The rules governing tournament casting as sped- 



