THE BEST STYLE OF BOD. 279 



use of the very inadequate, cumbrous implement handed down from 

 the fathers. 



Manufacturers move on, and such vast strides have been made in the 

 last few years in almost every part of the Angler's outfit that it was by 

 no means unreasonable to expect some improvements in our rods. Our 

 expectations have been realised. Very considerable improvements have 

 been made, although -there are rods still in stock that might be called 

 fossil rods and go very well in use with the proverbial fly in amber. 



But putting aside, for practical argument's sake, any predilection to 

 taste and opening our minds to impartial conviction we had better ask, 

 What is the best style of rod for Salmon- fishing ? The obvious answer is 

 that style of rod which is all-round best, which executes best all the 

 several kinds of casting practised by skilled Anglers the style that, on 

 the whole, best meets, most powerfully, easily, and pleasantly, all 

 possible exigencies of place, time, and circumstance. 



Surely this style of rod is equal in trained hands to make the ' ' Overhand," 

 the " Spey," the " Underhand," the " Flip," or even the " Wind" Cast- 

 each as required. This certainly is the beau ideal of a rod for a skilful 

 Angler whose fishing lies in a great variety of water. 



But on the other hand, there is a legion of Fishermen, keen on the 

 sport and fully alive to all improvement, who, naturally enough, contend 

 that the waters they fish do not call for such a variety of skill on their 

 part, and, therefore, such a many-sided action in the rod. They rather 

 look for certain special qualities in the rod, because their practice is 

 limited to one or perhaps two varieties of casts. One may possibly often 

 have to adopt the Spey cast, and fishing only that river, content himself 

 with a local model which carries a lightish line ; whilst another, in an 

 exposed run of catches, has as often to contend against a head-wind and 

 otherwise must use the Wind Cast, which demands a maximum of lifting 

 power in the rod and plenty of butt action, or leave the water unfished. 



Such and similar considerations must modify the ideal rod by giving 

 prominence in its style to the particular needs of each individual case. 

 But this opens no door for the exercise of haphazard taste. If the 

 Fisherman allows that intruder in, he will defeat his search for the best 

 rod. He must determine what modification of the ideally best rod will 



