36 PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



on the rod to take the rear end of the reel base and a 

 metal ring slides down over the forward end. This 

 is adequate for all practical purposes although some 

 makers supply their reel seats with locking devices de- 

 signed to hold the reel more securely. This cap, ring 

 winding check or taper should also be of German silver. 

 English rods are usually furnished with a " button " 

 or knob of wood or hard rubber at the extreme butt to 

 hold against the body while playing a fish. A detach- 

 able butt of soft rubber is sold by a.!l tackle dealers and 

 it is a good substitute for the permanent button. 

 Many English rods have a metal spear at the butt, an 

 idea that has never met with favor among American 

 anglers. 



GUIDES AND TIP TOPS 



For many years fly rods were made with rings and 

 keepers but at present the snake and English bridge 

 guides are most often used. All agate guides are ob- 

 jectionable on a fly rod because of their weight but an 

 agate or imitation agate first or hand guide and tip top 

 (tip guide) are desirable as they save wear on the line 

 as well as on the guide itself. Steel guides are prefer- 

 able to those of German silver as the latter are softer 

 and soon wear and fray the line. 



WINDINGS 



Windings are put on a bamboo rod to help hold the 

 sections together and for decoration. They also have 

 something to do with the rod's action. They are usu- 



