Fishing Eods. 171 



very well for black bass fishing, but as the flies to be used 

 are generally larger than trout flies, and as the bass is usu- 

 ally a much heavier fish than the brook trout, the rod 

 will require a little more backbone than is usually found 

 in trout rods. 



To obtain the necessary spring, snap, and stiffish back 

 required in a black bass fly rod, much consideration must 

 be given to the material of which it is to be constructed. 

 In my opinion, there is no material that combines so many 

 good and essential qualities as split-bamboo, if of the best 

 quality, and if it is made up in a first-class manner. It is 

 strong, flexible, comparatively light, and is the most re- 

 silient material used in rod-making, approaching steel 

 more nearly in this quality than any other wood. Ash and 

 lancewood, greenheart, bethabara, and some other woods, 

 when carefully selected, make excellent rods, but the best, 

 are inferior to a good split-bamboo rod. On the other 

 hand, a first-class bethabara, or ash and lancewood fly-rod, 

 is better than most split-bamboo rods as now made. 



It must be borne in mind that the action of the modern 

 shorter and stiffer fly rod difl'ers from the former long 

 and willowy rod of English pattern. With the improved 

 form the action in casting is quicker and somewhat jerky, 

 while with the longer and more supple rod the action was 

 slow, deliberate and more graceful, but required more 

 force to get out a good length of line. 



The fly rod has the reel-seat at the extreme end. of the 

 butt, and the hand-piece, or grip, of course, above it; for 

 the click-reel, wliich is used for fly-fishing, is a reel that is 

 intended to " take care of itself " in the rendering of the 

 line, and, therefore, is very properly placed where it is out 

 of the way, and where it adds very much to the balance 

 and general working of the rod. 



