54 THETARPON 



beginners. The rod should be built preferably of bam- 

 boo, although bethabara, dagama, hickory, noibwood, 

 greenhart or lancewood are used and are cheaper. 

 No tarpon caught on heavier tackle should be deemed 

 eligible for record. Tarpon rods of the heavier grade 

 usually have double guides placed opposite to each 

 other. The heavy sinker and the resistance of the 

 fish at the end of a long line will surely give any rod 

 a pronounced "set" and the double guides enable the 

 angler to turn the tip over and thereby to straighten 

 it during the fishing. But the line is apt to be caught 

 in the empty guides of a rod so constructed and many 

 anglers prefer a single line of guides. A rod can be 

 easily straightened by suspending it with a weight 

 attached to the lower end. The reel should be lashed 

 to the rod notwihstanding any patent attachment de- 

 vice the rod may have. Adhesive tape or fish line is 

 easily applied as a lashing. This applies to a rod of 

 any weight. 



In the light tackle class of the Tuna Club the rod 

 specifications are as follows: 



"Rod to be of wood consisting of butt and tip 

 and to be not shorter than six feet over all. Butt 

 not to exceed 14 inches in length. Tip to be not 

 less than five feet in length, and to weigh not more 

 than six ounces." 



The line used with this rod is standard nine thread. 

 At the Aransas Pass Tarpon Club it is permissible to 

 use a butt eighteen inches in length. 



Mr. L. P. Streeter of the Tuna Club first caught a 

 tarpon (5 feet 9 inches in length) on this tackle at 



