50 FISHING KITS AND EQUIPMENT 



the guides as for fishing. Reel off a convenient length 

 of line and attach the end of it to some substantial 

 object or have someone hold it. Then, steadily, put a 

 good stiff strain on the rod and carefully examine the 

 bend. As said above the rod should bend evenly 

 throughout its entire length from handgrasp to tip- 

 end; the bend should not be entirely confined to the 

 middle-joint and tip as is often the case. An even, 

 graceful bend spells equal distribution of strength, and 

 equally distributed strength means long life to the rod. 

 Put this strain on the rod with the guides both above 

 and below the rod, and also with the sides of the rod 

 held upward. The pull of a hooked fish and the strain 

 upon the rod when casting are by no means from one 

 direction only, and the rod must be capable of sus- 

 taining with equal resilience and safety, strains com- 

 ing from any direction. After each of these tests for 

 equality of bend see that the rod returns readily and 

 at once to its normal straightness. If it does not, but 

 seems to have a slight " set," or to come back in a 

 lifeless manner, it lacks resiliency and backbone and 

 on no account should be accepted. Finally, if the cir- 

 cumstances are such that it is possible, do some actual 

 casting with the rod. 



As a general axiom it may be said 

 Use and ^jj at split-bamboo rods require consid- 



Care of ., . . e ... 



Rod erably more care than those of solid 



wood; and since, for fly-casting, your 

 rod will preferably be of split-bamboo, you must be 



