46 PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



do remarkably well when one considers the good, bad 

 and indifferent material they work with and by mak- 

 ing a careful selection one often gets a fairly good 

 rod for a small investment. I have owned a number 

 of cheap bamboo fly rods that were good fishing tools 

 and it is a notable fact that you see more rods on the 

 streams costing less than fifteen dollars than those 

 costing more than that amount. 



CARE AND REPAIR 



The chief merit of the steel rod is that it requires 

 little care and stands much abuse. Bare spots should 

 be touched up with enamel when they appear to guard 

 against rust and the rod should be wiped, preferably 

 with an oily rag, before being put away and the fer- 

 rules should be kept oiled. Otherwise a steel rod will 

 take care of itself. Wood rods are inclined to dry rot 

 and to warp or become crooked and they should be 

 kept well varnished at all times which protects them 

 from changes of temperature and moisture. 



The principal objection to the bamboo rod is that it 

 requires care. A good bamboo rod should not be used 

 for trolling or for strip, slack line, Lake Greenwood 

 or pump pole casting. If you want to use these fishing 

 methods get a cheap wood or steel rod for the purpose. 



No fly rod should be left lying on the ground at all 

 or in a boat for any length of time; neither should it 

 be permitted to lean against a tree or side of a building 

 and don't leave it lying in the hot sun if you can avoid 



