24 PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



whalebone well spliced on. The rod should be sen- 

 sibly elastic down to the hand, but proportionately so, 

 for if one part seem not proportionately pliant, the 

 rod is weak somewhere. In some rods there is what 

 is called the double action and such a one I used for 

 years and thought nothing could be better; but, on 

 trying another stiffer, though at first awkward in its 

 use, I learned to like it better." 



COMBINATION WOOD RODS 



Early American fly rods were often made up of 

 different woods, as described by Dr. Bethune and 

 Wells expresses a preference for this type of wood rod. 

 They are still thus made, and sold for very low prices 

 in England, but American makers do not catalog 

 them. This is regrettable since a rod with butt of 

 second growth white ash and middle joint and tip of 

 lance or greenheart can be made and sold for a few 

 dollars and is ideal for the beginner who can afford to 

 invest only a very small amount in a fly rod. 



At present the most favored fly rod materials are 

 steel, solid woods and split bamboo. 



STEEL RODS 



A present-day steel rod of the better class is won- 

 derfully well made, being of a high class of material 

 imported especially for the purpose. The steel rod 

 is an excellent tool for certain kinds of fishing but the 

 steel fly rod is very heavy and has a listless action com- 

 pared with a rod of wood or bamboo, although con- 



