156 Book of the Black Bass. 



also, having had much practical experience with it. Mal- 

 colm A. Shipley, Philadelphia, makes a specialty of betha- 

 bara rods. 



The standard Henshall rod, of ash and lancewood, has a 

 true and gradual taper from the reel-seat to the tip, which 

 gives it a back, which, while just stiff enough for casting a 

 minnow, is sufBciently pliable and yielding to give a cor- 

 rect working to the rod under the play of a lively fish. 

 And just here is where so many rods fail — they are made 

 too weak in the butt-piece, or the upper two-thirds of it, 

 usually by a rapid and concave taper to reduce the caliber 

 of the rod at this point, in order to gain lightness. But 

 this can only be done at the expense of weakening the rod, 

 and spoiling its action. 



When a rod has too weak a back, or too slender a butt 

 at this point, it causes the rod to be top-heavy, and pro- 

 duces what is known as a " double action " in the rod, or 

 a " kick in the handle ;" qualities which were sought for 

 in some salmon fly rods in the old country, as it was sup- 

 posed that a fly could be cast farther with rods of this 

 character. But it was necessary that the angler should 

 become thoroiighly educated in the handling of a rod with 

 this peculiarity to be enabled to use it with any degree of 

 satisfaction. 



However much this principle may have been desired by 

 British salmon fishers, it becomes the very worst feature 

 in a black bass minnow rod. With this defect in a bait 

 rod, it is impossible to cast with any accuracy, or to any 

 great distance. And, moreover, it produces in the angler 

 a lack of confidence in his rod, for it " feels weak " to him 

 at the very point where it should feel the strongest, and 

 really the rod would give way at just this very point under 

 a heavy strain. 



