32 AMATEUR EODMAKING 



make his first rod of split bamboo, or even to 

 obtain glued-up stock and fit it. Instead, he 

 should obtain that material which is easiest to 

 manipulate, and carry the work through to 

 some sort of conclusion. Then, and only then, 

 will he master the first step in rodmaking and 

 begin to realize how easy and yet how difficult 

 it is to make a good rod. 



Without question split bamboo is the best 

 material known to-day. If you can obtain the 

 material in butts, joints, and tips, glued-up, so 

 that the " making " consists merely in finishing 

 it and fitting hand-grasp, ferrules, and trim- 

 mings, if care is exercised a very good rod will 

 be the result. But I would strongly advise the 

 novice not to attempt to make a split bamboo 

 rod complete; at least not until he has had 

 ample practice in making all-wood rods. In- 

 stead, pay a visit to some professional rod- 

 maker, if this be possible, at a time when he is 

 making split bamboo rods, and ask permission 

 to watch him at work for a little while. If you 

 do, my word for it, you will go away a wiser 

 if not a sadder man, for you will be convinced 

 that you lack the skill necessary to finish the six 

 slender strips and fit them together perfectly, 

 even if you can secure bamboo that will prove 

 to be worth cutting up. 



