218 THE TROUT ARE RISING 
a wide and an open stream, the 10 ft. rod is 
recommended. On the whole, for a man who 
may be fishing first one year in this river, and 
then another year in that river, or even in several 
rivers in the same year, Io ft. is the best all-round 
length. If plans admit of two rods, then choose 
one of 10 ft. and one of say 8 ft. or even 7 ft. for 
little overgrown waters. And if the angler be 
one who likes plenty of tackle in his den—like a 
housewife who has a well-stocked larder (happily 
always in use !)—then he could go in also for 
a third rod, and if so I would advise a good 
dry-fly rod of about to ft., one from a high-class 
maker. Shoddy stuff stands self-condemned, It 
must not be inferred that three rods are recom- 
mended for South Africa as a necessity. ‘They are 
not. Many anglers have one fly-rod only ; they 
have had it practically all their fishing life; they 
know its strength, its weakness (if any); they 
have learned to love it ; it always does its best ; 
and probably it has been the means of catching 
hundreds and hundreds of trout. The young 
angler need not worry. If he takes to trout 
fishing, and is dissatisfied with the rod he 
possesses, he will sooner or later meet other 
fishermen ; and he will no doubt be able to get 
practical hints and information as to various kinds 
of rods at the riverside. Anangler with a good rod 
is not unwilling—nay, he is often rather proud— 
to show it to a beginner. Nor should the beginner 
be surprised, in case the owner invites him to 
“have a throw with it,” if he catch a fish with 
