FISHING-RODS. 229 



THE BLACK BASS FLY-ROD. 



A few pages back, I made the statement that the Amer- 

 ican Trout fly-rod was the very perfection of fishing-rods, 

 and that all other rods should conform as nearly as possi- 

 ble to said model or typical rod, commensurate with the 

 manner of service required of them. Upon this principle, 

 an honest and well-made Trout fly-rod, about eleven feet 

 in length, and weighing from eight to nine ounces, answers 

 admirably for Black Bass fly-fishing ; and, fortunately, a 

 suitable rod of this character can be procured from any 

 first-class maker ; but I would caution the new hand against 

 the many cheap rods now in the market. A good rod can 

 only be obtained at a fair price. 



At the same time, I would here enter my protest against 

 the lightest, and " withiest," Trout fly-rods, weighing from 

 six to seven ounces, being used or recommended for Black 

 Bass fishing. Such rods are but toys at the best, and only 

 admissible for fingerlings, or Trout weighing from a half- 

 pound downwards. I know that some anglers make a 

 boast of using such rods, but it is on a par with some 

 gunners who rush to the extreme in light shot-guns, and 

 claim that a sixteen or twenty-bore is capable of as good 

 general execution as the larger gauges. Now these are 

 both palpable fallacies, as great as that of " sending a boy 

 to mill " in the " History of the Four Kings/' as many 

 have found to their cost. 



I "am a great stickler for extreme lightness in rods when 

 compatible with strength and action, but there is a certain 

 limit in weight that must be observed, so as to conform to 

 and preserve other and equally essential qualities in a good 

 working rod. Now, while I will guaranty, in open water, 



