210 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



both in fly, float-fishing, and trolling — more or less satisfactorily. 

 Of these combination rods, one of the most ingenious that I 

 have met with is the so-called MuUum in parvo rod made by 

 Mr. James Ogden, of Cheltenham. I cannot say, however, 

 that my experience hitherto leads me to have any great faith in 

 rods which combine such a great variety of characters. The 

 convenience of carrying is certainly a point in their favour. In 

 regard to ferrules, splicings, &c., I may observe that the joint 

 fastening which is best for the fly rod and the jack rod is best also 

 for every other sort of rod, and that anybody who henceforward 

 buys a rod with the old joint and reel fastenings deserves to 

 have what he certainly will get, an imperfect and defective 

 weapon. The reel fastening already recommended for trolling 

 and fly-rods is simply perfection, and, therefore, difficult as it is 

 to prophesy what future discoveries may not bring forth, in this 

 case, at least, we may assume to have approached finality. 

 When an invention fulfils every demand which the most 

 exigeant can imagine, there is little left for future inventors to 

 experiment upon. 



Before quitting the subject of rods, let me recommend that 

 for every description, whether trolling, fly-fishing, or float-fishing, 

 the rings should be stiff, upright rings, although for the last- 

 named object — float-fishing — the rings may be very much 

 smaller than those required for trolling. Such rings made of 

 steel need be no heavier than the ordinary flapping brass rings, 

 commonly sold at the tackle shops, which are subject to in- 

 numerable drawbacks — the first being the habit of sticking at 

 some point or other of the rod and so preventing the free 

 passage of the line, the second is their coming off altogether, 

 leaving a ' ghastly gap ' in which the line loops itself. 



CREELS. 



As the bank fisher has generally some impedimenta to stow 

 away, and being more or less stationary, prefers setting down 

 his basket to carrying it constantly on his shoulder, he would 

 probably prefer the ordinary wicker-work creel to the water- 



