136 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



or set are quite similar. The rod which has acquired 

 a set should be hung up by the tip with 



Wdght attached to the butt > P rovided 

 the set runs through the entire rod; if 



only one joint is affected this should be treated in the 

 same manner. By way of prevention when the rod is 

 to be unused for a long time, as during the winter 

 months, suspending each joint separately, or at least 

 the tip and middle joints, is by far the best way of 

 storing it. If you have a rod and gun cabinet it is 

 exactly suited to the purpose. When the rod is sus- 

 pended merely as a matter of precaution it is unneces- 

 sary to use a weight. 



The man who makes his own rods certainly derives 

 more pleasure from their use than does the angler who 

 uses a ready-made rod this in spite of the fact that the 

 professionally made rod will always be the better one 

 unless the amateur maker is very expert indeed. In due 

 proportion, there is more sport in handling a rod the 

 efficiency of which is partly due to your own tinkering 

 than in using one upon which you have no claim for 

 improvements. 



Strip-casting for Black Bass 

 If you have never learned bait-casting for black bass 

 and for any reason do not care to take up that method, 

 a very good substitute and a very efficient angling 

 method may be found in strip-casting. It may be said 

 with truth, also, that at times strip-casting is more ef- 

 ficient than casting from the reel, whether or not you 

 have mastered the use of the short bait-casting rod and 



