436 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



sideration as a man, and should not her way to success 

 be made at least as easy as his ? But it will be urged 

 she has not the physical strength to handle a ten-foot, 

 seven or eight ounce rod with comfort. This is quite 

 true if she tries to do it with but one hand, but it is not 

 true if she uses both hands. 



In brief, I think every lady, unless exceptionally 

 strong, should use a ten-foot rod of considerable power 

 in fly-fishing, but employing both hands that is, cast- 

 ing with both hands just as a man does when salmon- 

 fishing. 



The rod should be arranged as follows : 



A hole about a quarter of an inch in diameter should 

 be drilled through the butt-cap of the selected rod so as 

 to enter the butt about one and a half inches. A mov- 

 able plug should be provided to fit the hole, so that it 

 can be inserted or withdrawn at will. When the plug 

 is inserted, it is as though the rod had never been al- 

 tered. It is just as serviceable a single-handed rod as 

 it ever was. Provide also a handle about three and a 

 half or four inches long, with a dowel at one end, which 

 will fit the hole in the butt. When a lady is to use the 

 rod, withdraw the plug and attach this handle. She 

 will then have a double-handed rod with a grasp for 

 one hand above, and for the other hand below the reel, 

 precisely like a miniature salmon-rod ; and I can assure 

 my readers she will be able to use this rod with far 

 more efficiency and with less than half the muscular 

 effort required by a five-ounce rod of far less power. 



I speak from experience and not conjecture. For 

 years I have made it my practice to carry a spare rod 

 so arranged on my angling excursions for the succor of 

 the unfortunate. It has been used as a single-handed 



