84 SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



the correct tool for ordinary Black Bass fly-fishing ; for it 

 must be borne in mind that it is not the largest Bass that 

 rise to the fly, and a lighter rod can, consequently, be used 

 than in bait fishing ; though where the Bass run exception- 

 ably large, and especially for the waters of Florida, a foot 

 in length and an ounce in weight may be added. 



The rod should have a stiffer back than trout fly-rods of 

 the same weight and length, but should still retain nearly 

 the same pliancy, though necessarily most of the flexibility 

 will be in the upper two-thirds of the rod. This gives pli- 

 ancy for casting, resiliency for striking, and plenty of 

 " backbone " for playing and landing the fish. Of course, 

 a trout rod of about these dimensions will answer very well 

 for Black Bass fishing, but as the flies to be used are gen- 

 erally larger than trout flies, and as the Bass is usually a 

 much heavier fish than the brook-trout, the rod will require 

 a little more backbone than is usually found in trout rods. 



To obtain the necessary spring, snap, and stiifish back 

 required in a Black Bass fly-rod, much consideration must 

 be given to the material of which it is to be constructed. 

 In my opinion, there is no material that combines so many 

 good and essential qualities as split bamboo, if of the best 

 quality, and if it is made up in a first-class manner. It is 

 strong, flexible, comparatively light, and is the most re- 

 silient material used in rod-making, approaching steel more 

 nearly in this quality than any other wood. Ash and lance- 

 wood, greenheart, bethabara, and some other woods, when 

 carefully selected, make excellent rods, but the best are in- 

 ferior to a good split-bamboo rod. On the other hand, a 

 first-class bethabara, or ash and lancewood fly-rod, is better 

 than many split-bamboo rods as now made. 



Mr. Thomas H. Chubb makes a rod from the specifica- 



