The Sunfisb Family 17 



be from nine to ten and one-half feet in length, 

 and weigh from six and one-half to eight ounces, 

 according to the preferences of the angler and 

 the waters to be fished. 



For an all-round rod for all-round work my 

 ideal is ten and a quarter feet long and weighing 

 seven ounces in split bamboo and eight ounces 

 in ash and lancewood, or ash and bethabara. It 

 should be made in three pieces, with a stiffish back- 

 bone, constituting the lower third of its length, 

 and with most of the bend in the upper two- 

 thirds. A rod constructed on this principle will 

 afford just the requisite amount of resiliency for 

 casting, with sufficient pliancy and elasticity for 

 playing a fish, and embody all the power and 

 strength needed. The reel-seat should be simply 

 a shallow groove in the hand-piece, with reel- 

 bands, instead of the solid metal reel-seat, which 

 subserves no good purpose and is only added 

 weight ; moreover, it is now put on the cheapest 

 rods as a trap to catch the unwary. All metal 

 mountings should be German silver or brass. 

 Nickel-plated mountings are cheap and nasty. 



A light, single-action click reel of German sil- 

 ver or aluminum of fifty or sixty yards' capacity 

 is the best. A plain crank handle is to be pre- 



