108 AMATEUR RODMAKING 



the longest salmon rods, which are nearly al- 

 ways made in three joints, proving that no 

 maker likes to place ferrules in the middle of 

 the rod which is necessary in making a four- 

 joint rod. The principal exceptions are the 

 short two-piece salt-water rods, which are 

 more or less -stiff throughout their length; and 

 the short bait-casting rods. 



In a 5 5/2 -foot bait-casting rod of the neces- 

 sary caliber, two ferrules make the joints very 

 short, and the stiff metal is actually about one- 

 eighth the total length of the rod. Aside from 

 the fact that the ferrules in short three-piece 

 rods are placed to better advantage, the rod 

 made in two pieces of equal lengths is to be 

 recommended. Certainly it is almost as easy 

 to make two of this type as one with three 

 joints and an extra tip. When the three- 

 joint rod is to be made 6 or 6j4 feet long, 

 however, its advantages increase with its 

 length. 



In a 5J^-foot rod made in three pieces of 

 equal length, and of the caliber given in Fig. 

 29, the ferrules will be 21-64 inch, with one 

 center; and 13-64 inch, with two centers, for 

 the tips. The tips when completed and fitted 

 with tops, will be 22 y$ inches long and will be 

 tapered from 13-64 to 7-64. Finish these first 



