74 RODS. 



put up in a bag, with tops of various lengths. This is 

 no doubt a very serviceable rod, and may be adapted 

 for roach and perch fishing, as well as for spinning a 

 minnow, or trolling for pike. I should, however, re- 

 commend a five-joint rod, made of the best hickory, 

 with two buts, and from sixteen to seventeen feet in 

 length, with five tops, two sets of winch ferrules, and a 

 socket and spear. This goes into a partition bag, and 

 will be found a capital rod for almost every purpose. 

 By changing the tops, you form different sorts of bait- 

 rods as for barbel, roach, perch, &c. If you practise 

 roach fishing, however, I should strongly recommend 

 you to keep a white cane roach-rod, which, though 

 rather expensive at first, will abundantly repay its 

 cost, in the pleasure and satisfaction it affords. 



If you purchase your rod of a respectable tackle- 

 maker, you will be in no danger of having an im- 

 perfect one passed off on you. Should you buy it 

 elsewhere, see that it is free from flaw, that it tapers 

 gradually from the but-end to the point, and that it is 

 perfectly straight when put together. To be com- 

 plete, your rod should be ringed for a running line, 

 and have a winch to wind it on.* A multiplying winch 

 should be adopted, and so made to be attached to the 

 rod, that it may be used for any rod required. The 

 "improved tube winch," made by Messrs. Holmes 

 and Son, of Fetter-lane, is a neat and convenient appa- 

 ratus. It is let into the rod at the distance of three 

 or four inches from the but-end, which screws on and 

 off. The winch is thus out of the way, and of much 

 less weight in the hand than any other I have seen. 



* For bank-fishing, a winch is not necessary, and is often found 

 to be in the way. 



