166 THE FINE ART OF FISHING 



case of heavy rain. All you need is some crotched 

 sticks. Plant them closely enough together so that the 

 rod will be supported equally throughout its entire 

 length. 



For the bait-casting rods a better and more conve- 

 nient arrangement, since these rods are short enough 

 to allow this, is a rack on which the rods can be sus- 

 pended from the tip. Such a rack can easily be con- 

 structed in several different ways and it hardly seems 

 necessary to go into the details. It should be placed 

 inside the tent and will take up very little room. Never 

 by any chance allow a split-bamboo rod, or, for that 

 matter, any rod, to lie for any length of time on the 

 ground. It can be ruined in one night by this sort 

 of treatment. By all means take the rod down if you 

 can remember to; otherwise, use the rod rack. 



In packing for a near-home trip, if you are not going 

 light, it is a good plan to stow some of the outfit in a 

 box which can be made into a live-bait box; or make 

 your bait box at home and then utilize it for packing. 

 Be sure to have the cover stout enough to hold the 

 weights you will use upon it. 



If you have a line dryer you will probably use it 

 sometimes. A couple of cleats nailed one above the 

 other to a tree or the tent pole make a competent dryer 

 of which the most striking characteristic is simplicity. 

 If you attempt a more complicated arrangement the 

 chances are it will never be completed, unless you are 

 one of those not rare individuals who may be described 

 as "camp tinkers." 



If the natural conditions are favorable it is a good 



