WINDING RODS 201 



position and number of guides depend upon its 

 caliber and length. 



Take up the guides one by one and file the 

 upper edges of the bases, so that the silk will 

 not be cut by them in winding; then, with a 

 few turns of common thread, tie each one on 

 the rod and true them all up by sighting 

 through them from both directions. To assist 

 in their alignment tiny shallow holes should 

 be drilled in both ferrules, so that in putting 

 the rod together it is merely necessary to seat 

 the ferrules with the two marks opposite in 

 order to align the guides perfectly. This ap- 

 plies to all rods. 



On bait-casting rods for tournament work 

 alone, it seems best to use only two guides, so 

 that the hand guide must be three feet or more 

 from the reel, the distance between it and the 

 second guide being slightly more than the dis- 

 tance between the second guide and the agate 

 top, in order to insure the least possible friction 

 on the line. 



If you are particular to have the windings as 

 handsome as possible, putting them on without 

 wax will tend to preserve their color, if they 

 are carefully coated with shellac before var- 

 nishing. On a rod whose preliminary coat of 

 varnish is still a trifle soft, yet not tacky, un- 



