i 3 2 FISHING KITS AND EQUIPMENT 



that can be given is, no matter what sort of a rod 

 you use, not to use your fly-rod. If 



^ait-tackle you have the right fly-fishing spirit you 

 tor Trout. . . . , , 



will not care to use bait except when the 



trout are ground-feeding and will not rise to the sur- 

 face. The steady strain, in swift water, which a rod 

 has to undergo in this sort of work is best put upon 

 some other rod than a fine one of split-bamboo. 



Also, it seems to me that the following is good ad- 

 vice: Do not use a regular bait-rod, that is, a rod 

 with the reel-seat above the hand. A rod of this sort 

 is all right for fishing from a boat, but for stream fish- 

 ing for trout it is undesirable. A rather short, sturdy 

 fly-rod, with the reel-seat below the hand, where you 

 are or eventually will be if you become a worthy 

 fly-caster most accustomed to it, is far better. A 

 split-bamboo rod, if it is any good at all, is too good 

 to use for bait fishing. A well-made solid wood rod 

 is perfectly good for the purpose; and it should be the 

 opposite of whippy. Personally I think that one of 

 the shorter length and lighter weight steel fly-rods 

 cannot be beaten for all-round trout bait-fishing. 



If you use a rod with the reel-seat below the hand- 

 grasp the single-action reel is the best to use in con- 

 junction therewith. If the reel-seat is above the hand, 

 and the reel is placed on top of the rod, neither of 

 which things is desirable, although it is, of course, more 

 or less a matter of personal opinion, a double-multiply- 

 ing reel may be used. 



