SALMON FISHING WITH THE FLY. 187 



A heavy butt with no spring to it, and with a weak top, is of 

 little use for casting purposes, beyond a certain distance. The 

 spring should be felt, to a certain extent, to the bottom of the 

 butt when casting, and I consider a rod which does not possess 

 this quality of little or no value. Castle Connell rods are made 

 on this principle, but, in my opinion, they are too top-heavy. 

 If they had a little less weight at the top and more in the butt, 

 I think they would be pleasanter to fish with and would lose 

 nothing in power. They will doubtless cast as long a line as 

 rods of other descriptions, but, owing to their being so thin 

 at the butt and so top-heavy, it often happens that, when throw- 

 ing a long line in a gale of wind, they are apt to smash just 

 above the reel. I fished with these rods for years, but for this 

 reason I discarded them. They are, however, very powerful 

 rods, and well suited to the Shannon, where the fish run very 

 heavy and a powerful rod is required ; and, as all fishing is 

 done out of a boat on that river, long casting is unnecessary. 



Every rod requires a line to suit it ; and it will be as well to 

 bear in mind when making a choice of one that a rod with a 

 weak, whippy top is not suitable for casting thick lines, and a 

 stiff or more powerful rod is not adapted for casting a thin line. 

 The best wood for a rod is green or brown heart. It is very 

 light and pleasant to fish with : the only drawback is that rods 

 made of it will sometimes smash at a moment's notice without 

 any apparent cause. 



I have sent my favourite rod to Farlow's, and, should anyone 

 wish to try one made on the same lines, he will be able to obtain 

 it at that establishment. In choosing a rod, a novice will walk 

 as it were blindfolded into a fishing-tackle maker's shop, and 

 generally order the biggest rod he can get, and of a calibre 

 which will tire him in half an hour. A big rod seems to be a 

 necessity to him, and a gentle hint from an older angler that 

 the rod is rather too heavy is not often taken in good part. 

 It is only by bitter experience that he will find out his mistake. 

 If fishing-tackle manufacturers would but 'take stock' of 

 their customers, and recommend the beginner to choose a rod 



