With What to Get Them 



German silver mounted, agate guides, and is about 

 half the price of a first-class all- wood rod. If the 

 angler has special fads, requiring special finish or 

 different wants, he has only to express his desire 

 and they are supplied. The steel rod has many 

 extra advantages. One is the telescopic bait and 

 fly rod, with the line running through the centre of 

 the rod. This seems to be the perfection of com- 

 fort in fishing, if it works right, and though I have 

 not used this particular one, there is no doubt it 

 is a useful rod. Everything in rods is available 

 in steel. One of the latest is a combination reel 

 and handle, whereby the line runs directly up the 

 centre of the rod, being well balanced and natural. 

 This idea, it seems to me, ought to be used in big 

 game fishing, both for marine and fresh water, 

 when reels are so liable to be disjointed, and have 

 to be lashed on secure in addition to the usual 

 seat rings. 



I have used the steel fly rod and like it. It is 

 heavy, compared with the four-ounce rods, but as 

 previously remarked, I don't fish for fingerlings; 

 I want to cast good distances, and have confidence 

 in the mastery of large fish which cannot be got 

 out of a peacock's feather, and can be got out of 

 a steel rod. Indeed, I hate to treat my bamboo 

 harshly not that it won't stand it, but I don't 

 care to try. 



In fishing for mascalonge, I am more aggres- 

 sive, because the antagonist is (if large) my equal, 

 indeed, my superior in cunning, sometimes in 

 strength. Now a steel rod is hard and cold; one 

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