44 Defects of a Fly-rod. 



through the rings, and your casting-line, stinting, &c. 

 attached and ready for use. 



The length of it for such streams as the Wear, Tees, 

 Swale, &e. should not exceed thirteen feet; under this 

 length, if properly made, it will be perfectly and pleasantly 

 manageable with one hand. It may be considerably 

 shorter than this, say ten or eleven feet, if a man wades, 

 which all Fly-fishers should do, if they expect to pursue 

 their sport satisfactorily. 



One of the greatest defects which a Fly-rod can have 

 is that of being top-heavy or lob-ended; that is, too 

 pliant in the middle piece, if a three-pieced rod, or in 

 the butt, if of two pieces. When fishing with such a rod 

 you can never know with any certainty where your flies 

 will fall on the water; and when they do come down 

 upon a pool it is like a cart rope, with a great splash. 

 This y ou will find very unsatisfactory to yourself and the 

 trout that may be therein peacefully feeding. They cer- 

 tainly do not require any such notice of your " being out;" 

 they discover that soon enough, even though you may be 

 exerting all your skill to prevent it. 



By no means have your Fly-rod ferruled but spliced, 

 because ferrules not only add to the weight, but interrupt 

 the even and free spring of it qualities so very essential 

 in a Fly-rod. Moreover the lightest rod is found heavy 

 enough after a hard day's fishing, the sinews of the hand 

 and arm being constantly kept in action. Besides, how- 

 ever well made and fitted the ferrules may be, they are 

 all liable to swell or otherwise go wrong ; and sometimes 

 become so tightly fixed after getting wet, that you cannot 

 separate them at the water side, and are obliged to have 

 recourse to a burning candle when you get home. The 

 only way to loosen them without straining them is to 

 turn them round in the flame so as to make the ferrule 

 expand and permit the other piece to be drawn out. It 



