238 COARSE FISH. 



I prefer round rings to the snake pattern for spinning 

 _ , rods ; unless snake-rings are very carefully 

 rings made and properly whipped on, the line catches 

 where the rings join the rod. One badly made 

 ring on a rod will give much trouble. The rings must 

 be of hard metal, or silk lines will soon cut grooves in 

 them. The topmost and lowest rings should be con- 

 structed to revolve ; turn these rings occasionally, as 

 they get the most friction. The wire surrounding these 

 rings should clip them tightly (or there is incessant 

 rattle), but not so tightly that the rings cannot be turned 

 round. If you find grooves in the rings, send the rod to 

 the makers, and have the rings renewed, for the grooves 

 will soon spoil your line. Vaseline on spinning lines 

 (undressed) saves a lot of friction, but it might possibly 

 do harm to a dressed line by softening the enamel. 



Rods, so-called, are built with several tops of different 

 _ J patterns to suit different varieties of fish or 



rods fishing. To some extent, they are of service, 

 though I do not admire them. A rod should 

 be built for a certain style of fishing ; much greater 

 comfort and efficacy is attained by this. A short top, 

 and a long top, particularly in pike and barbel rods, to 

 alter from livebaiting or legering to spinning or floating 

 (float fishing) will be found very useful, and it is on this 

 account that pike-rods are generally sent out with two 

 tops. 



The economy that suggests purchasing bad gut because 



it is cheap will nearly always prove a " penny wise 



Gut and pound foolish " policy. A man will, with- 



^^^^ out consideration, give the best price for rod, 



hook winch and line, but will sometimes take but 



lengths little trouble to see that his cast is the very 



best; yet his whole tackle depends on the 



strength of the weakest strand or knot. Good gut is 



round and even, without flat ends or twists ; and a little 



extra care in selection will amply repay itself. Gut 



should be well soaked in water before knotting; the 



thicker the gut, the longer the soaking. This soaking of 



thick gut is very important ; and a fresh knot should be 



tested before use. 



