THE STRIPED BASS 



styles of fishing differ widely, there must naturally 

 be a corresponding variety in the character of the 

 rods used, depending upon the conditions to be met 

 by the angler. The materials generally used for 

 the rod are ash, lancewood, and Calcutta or Japa- 

 nese bamboo, either natural or split. Whatever the 

 materials, a jointed rod is preferable to any other. 

 The length and weight of the rod differ with cir- 

 cumstances. A casting-rod should be eight or eight 

 and a half feet long, and weigh from twelve to 

 sixteen or eighteen ounces. 



The best rod, of course, in the opinion of most 

 anglers, is of split bamboo of superior quality and 

 workmanship, although one that will best stand 

 hard usage may be made of lancewood, greenheart, 

 or bethabara, which, however, would be somewhat 

 heavier than one of split bamboo. A very satis- 

 factory rod and much less expensive, besides pos- 

 sessing the advantage of lesser weight, is made of 

 the natural male Calcutta bamboo, known to anglers 

 as a " chum " rod. 



The rod should be in not less than two pieces, and 

 some prefer to have it in three, when the length 

 reaches eight and a half feet. In some cases the 

 rod may be nine feet long, but it must have plenty 

 of spring and be much stiff er than trout and salmon 

 rods of the same dimensions. Two joints of bam- 

 boo with a butt of lancewood or some other heavy 

 wood, form a rod which meets with great favor. 



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