FITTINGS FOR THE FLY-ROD 37 



frequent alternation, the strains to which the rod is 

 subject offset and neutralize one another, and the rod 

 will retain throughout its life that perfect identity of 

 action on both the forward and back casts, the lack of 

 which, in my judgment, is one of the very worst faults 

 a fly-rod can have." 



As above noted the independent handle is used on 

 the tourist fly-rods and makes it possible for the angler 

 to carry the equivalent of three individual rods in a 

 very small package. For mountain stream fishing, 

 where the fish are not large and the fishing trips short 

 ones, the rod has usually abundant time to " get 

 rested " and the independent handle is hardly impera- 

 tive. It increases the rod lengths by one and the fer- 

 rules by two, neither of which things is greatly de- 

 sirable for a good many reasons. 



It is hardly necessary to state that for the fly-rod 

 the reel-seat must be placed below the handgrasp. In 

 common with all other metal rod-fit- 

 tings, the material should be German 

 silver. If the rod is to be used for 

 heavy fishing some form of locking reel-seat, of which 

 there are several kinds, might be advisable. For or- 

 dinary purposes nothing of the sort is necessary. 

 These devices are for the purpose of firmly locking 

 reel to reel-seat as a guard against any possibility of 

 the reel working loose while casting or playing a fish. 

 Some fly-rods are furnished with reel-bands only. 

 This form is not as serviceable as the ordinary metal 



