" THE ART OF SPINNING. 193 



be adapted to the waters fished and to the size of 

 their trout. On mountain streams, on many of 

 which the art is largely practised during the summer 

 months when the fly has lost its attractiveness, a 

 light rod and moderately fine gut are sufficient, for 

 a three-pounder would there be about the limit of 

 one's ambitions. For the Thames, the Irish lakes, 

 and other places in which one dreams of ten- 

 pounders, a stronger rod and stout gut are a wise 

 precaution. The first case would be adequately 

 met by the novice's fly-rod if he procured a shorter 

 top for it. This will make its action very much 

 stiffer, without depriving it of its spring, which is 

 as important in a spinning-rod as in a fly-rod, 

 though it is not so obvious. Under stress it should 

 bend right down to the hand in a true, though slight, 

 curve. The same rod would be just right for perch 

 also. 



For the bigger trout one wants something more 

 powerful. At a pinch the novice could use his 

 bottom-fishing rod with the short top, but it is 

 rather too rigid to be quite satisfactory, and if 

 spinning for big trout is likely to claim much of his 

 attention a special rod for the purpose is worth 

 getting. One of my rods, a split cane, is roft. 6in. in 

 length and weighs about i3Joz; another, loft, yin., 

 weighs about an ounce more. The first is a rod of 



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