122 AMATEUR EODMAKING 



wood rod will give its owner a great deal of 

 satisfaction. Furthermore, it is not so difficult 

 to make as some of the thinner fly-rods. 



In a rod whose length ranges from thirteen 

 to eighteen feet and with a weight of 23 to 

 32 ounces or more, stiffness in the rod requires 

 muscle in the angler. To wield a stiff bamboo 

 rod of 25 ounces and a long and heavy line 

 during several hours' fishing taxes the angler's 

 strength more than does a whippy rod of 

 greater weight, and this is one reason why 

 wood rods are peculiarly adapted to salmon 

 fishing. A nicely proportioned wood rod has 

 good action and with it a fly can be cast and 

 fished with less exertion at ordinary salmon 

 fly-casting distances than is possible with the 

 stiffer bamboo rod, hence anglers of small 

 stature and average strength are likely to favor 

 wood rods. 



Again, the split bamboo rod does not begin 

 to work until a certain length of line is ex- 

 tended; that is, it requires the pull of a long 

 line to make the rod spring properly. With- 

 out this spring the fly cannot be cast neatly at 

 any distance. Have you ever tried to cast a 

 fly with a stiff bait rod? You have sufficient 

 power in the rod, but lack the weight of line 

 that is necessary to get the snap that sends the 

 line in a rolling loop through the air. Try as 



