284 THE SALMON FLY. 



sooner from the active exertion of doing all the work oneself with a light 

 rod, than from the semi-passive labour of carrying and controlling a 

 heavier rod that does for the Angler most, if not all the work within certain 

 limits. This principle is of intensified application where the more special 

 modes of casting are involved. In a moderately strong head wind the old- 

 fashioned rod must give up altogether and look enviously on its modern 

 rival rejoicing " in the battle and the breeze." In short, it may fearlessly 

 be affirmed that, under any conditions of wind and weather the man who 

 has once found himself able to cast his fly upon the desired spot with the 

 scrupulous accuracy and reasonable delicacy and lightness, easily acquired 

 with the modified Castle Connell rod I advocate," will never again 

 return to the old combination of tackle. Nor will he regard as draw- 

 backs or defects the superior strength added in the new type of rod, 

 which secures the virtually sky-high immunity from banks, bushes and 

 other traps behind him. 



This particular modified Castle Connell is perfectly made in green- 

 heart, and is called the " Kelson Bod." I do not know of any defects to 

 set off against its merits. Its merits are power of steady endurance in 

 holding a big fish in a strong stream ; power of lifting and propelling a 

 long line by every method of casting in any kind of weather or place in 

 which one fishes ; and what is even more useful where the " Spey " is 

 imperative power of making the thrashdown by throwing, when, in 

 awkward winds, casting is impracticable. (Spey rods cannot do that.) 

 By its action alone one is capable of commanding with this rod thirty 

 yards of water ; and, when necessary, it can be made to command 

 without much force over forty by employing the " Overhand " and of 

 course much more by the " Governor." 



The superb rod on the Shannon, known as the Castle Connell, is the 

 parent of this rod, which, after a long and varied experience in rod using and 

 rod making, I have found the most pleasantly powerful and generally 

 serviceable. In all-round competition, and this includes the .making of 

 all the known casts, except the " Overhand," the Irish rod is indisputably 

 the most successful of all the ordinary types. 



The distinguishing improvements in our rod have been introduced 

 with the intention of curing as far as possible any tendency to repeat the 



