Fishing Kods. 169 



run, and if made by a master hand is almost as satisfac- 

 tory, especially for the heavier rods. 



A trout fly rod, then, weighing six or seven ounces, and 

 not more than ten and a quarter feet long, is just about 

 right for ordinary black bass fly-fishing; but where the 

 bass run large, averaging nearly or quite three pounds, a 

 somewhat heavier rod, say seven and a half or eight ounces, 

 will be found a more suitable and pleasanter rod to handle, 

 though the six-ounce rod will do even here, for one who is 

 an expert fly-fisher, and who does not mind a little extra 

 straining of the brachial muscles, to say nothing of the rod. 



But while an ounce, more or less, hardly seems an ap- 

 preciable quantity in the abstract, yet when added to or 

 taken from a fly rod, like the fraction of an inch as applied 

 to a man's nose, it makes a very great difference in prac- 

 tice and reality ; and in the former case, it is better to have 

 an ounce too much, than a half ounce too little; for, 

 like the repeating rifle when tackling a grizzly, it gives 

 one a confidence in his resources which adds materially 

 to the zest of his sport. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that it is not the 

 largest bass that rise to the fly, and a lighter rod can, 

 consequently, be used than in bait flshing; though where 

 the bass run exceptionally large, and especially for the 

 waters of Florida, six inches in length and an ounce in 

 weight may be added. 



The rod should have a stiffer back than most trout fly 

 rods of the same weight and length, but should still retain 

 nearly the same pliancy, though necessarily most of the 

 flexibility will be in the upper two-thirds of the rod. This 

 gives pliancy for casting, resiliency for striking, and plenty 

 of " backbone " for playing and landing the fish. Of 

 course, a trout rod of about these dimensions will answer 



