BAIT-CASTING RODS 77 



sions and weight to the strength and stature 

 of him who wields it." 



Possibly a short man may get better results 

 with a five foot rod than with one of six feet, 

 but there is little to recommend any rod 

 shorter than five feet, since it must be stubby 

 if badly proportioned, or weak if of too small 

 diameter. If the handgrasp is less than twelve 

 inches in length, and the taper begins at 15-32 

 of an inch and is hollow for a short distance, 

 then gradual to the top, with a diameter there 

 of 7-64 inch, the 66-inch rod will be equally 

 serviceable for fishing and for practice in 

 tournament casting. It may well be termed an 

 all-round rod. 



In view of these facts, as well as for the 

 sake of brevity and simplicity, I will try to in- 

 struct beginners in making bait rods 5J4 feet 

 in length. The application of the same princi- 

 ples to the making of rods of other lengths 

 will follow naturally and fly-rods will be treated 

 separately. 



Several things must be considered by the be- 

 ginner before he obtains his rod materials: 



First. It is evident that the ideal rod is one 

 made of a single length of wood or split bam- 

 boo, with a handgrasp permanently glued on 

 its large end. But while this is particularly 



