250 FLY-FISHING. 



rica than in England, in spite of the greater foreign 

 experience ; a result that is due mainly to our per- 

 sistent effort after delicacy, and perhaps partly to the 

 habits and size of our fish ; but an English fly-rod is 

 now regarded as a clumsy monstrosity. 



Trout-rods are usually made of ash with a bamboo 

 or Calcutta cane-tip ; the latter is infinitely prefer- 

 able to lance-wood, on account of its greater strength 

 and lightness. The bamboo is split into narrow 

 pieces the length of one joint of the cane, and being 

 glued together, is trimmed to the proper shape. 

 Three pieces should be used, each planed, by an in- 

 strument made for the purpose, into an obtuse angle, 

 and fitting neatly together ; if two pieces only are 

 united, the tip will bend to different degrees in dif- 

 ferent directions. 



Bamboo may also be used for the second joint, 

 and makes a light and vigorous rod, with ash for 

 the butt ; horn-beam or iron-wood, and greenheart, 

 have also been introduced for trout-rods, but have 

 not come into general acceptance ; lance-wood is 

 strong but too heavy, while my decided favorite is 

 red cedar. Rods, after they have been exposed to 

 wet, and have endured the strain of a strong fish, or 

 even the effort of repeated casting, will warp ; they 

 will, if they are extremely light, prove deficient in 

 power ; they are apt to be either heavy or feeble ; 

 they will, when the current or wind is strong, give 

 to it and lose their quickness in striking ; in fact, 

 they have many defects common to one or the other 

 of the above woods, unless they are made of cedar ; 



