238 GOT, ROD, AND SADDLE. 



will not only be found most difficult to manage, but 

 excessively fatiguing. There is a rod made in Castle 

 Connell (principally for salmon), after the above pat- 

 tern ; it has many admirers, who doubtless through 

 experience have become proficient in its use ; still I 

 can speak only from what I know, and my verdict 

 is, leave them to their present advocates. 



A combination-rod has always been my horror. I 

 mean such as fishing-tackle shop proprietors guaran- 

 tee to be both a perfect fly and bait rod only by al- 

 tering the tip. If persons will but use their brains 

 they can in a moment see that such is impossible. 

 The two uses are essentially different, requiring the 

 spring and elasticity in totally different parts. The 

 act of placing a dull, lumbering tip on the first three 

 joints of a delicate, pliant trout rod is really desecra- 

 tion. However, some may say, you will find a medium 

 between the two more generally useful. My answer 

 is, what is worth doing is worth doing well ; and if 

 your intent is fly-fishing, the most perfect rod for that 

 purpose should be selected. If the river is so discolor- 

 ed or swollen that bait has to be resorted to, or you 

 must go supperless to bed, for goodness' sake go and 

 cut a hazel wand, unless you carry a bait rod an arti- 

 cle for capturing trout that no true fisherman ought to 



