46 OBSERVATIONS ON A SALMON RIVER 



understand handling fish, for a fresh run 

 salmon, though active, is not a strong 

 fighting fish for its weight. 



Some of the old-time anglers still use the 

 English wooden rods of sixteen feet or more 

 in length, for they maintain that they are 

 superior to the modern light split bamboo 

 grilse rod. Their theory is that the latter 

 is too quick in action and loses many strik- 

 ing fish, which it should not do if the rod is 

 handled with the light hand that it is not 

 possible to employ with a heavy rod. I find 

 the green-heart rod is superior in a strong 

 wind, for it has more power. 



The wooden rod, though more brutal 

 when you first give the fish the butt, is not 

 nearly so killing, for every fibre in the 

 bamboo is alive and at work all the time. 



The modern split bamboo grilse rods now 

 in use are fourteen feet, more or less, in 

 length and are easy to handle for they are 

 well balanced and weigh from 16 to 24 

 ounces. 



My advice to a beginner using these rods 



