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Ae IO (6c CO Fall VR: 

Some Bait-Casting Pointers 
BY W. B. COATS 
Fishing is preeminently the recreation of the 
man of modest means. His tackle may be as 
unpretentious or as elaborate as his taste and 
purse determine, and the enjoyment derived 
from its use may be in an inverse ratio to its 
costliness. Perfect tackle is a perfect joy even 
to look at, and the pleasure of using it is ad- 
mittedly great. Then, too, good tools are a 
wonderful aid to doing good work; indeed, it 
can scarcely be done without them. But 
good tools are often exceedingly cheap and the 
higher priced article may be no better for 
actual use. This I think is especially true of 

given me several years ago by a friend. It was 
the only part left in existence of what had once 
been a split bamboo. Any tackle store will sell 
you a butt just like it for fifty cents, and new 
at that. The tip is forty-four inches long above 
the butt. I cut it from the tip of an ordinary 
cane pole (tackle catalogues call them Japanese 
bamboo), costing fifteen cents. In selecting 
this be sure there are no worm holes and that it 
is straight and has not twisted in growing. 
Get a piece that has the “joints” close as possible. 
A little practice will enable one to select the 
portion giving just the right amount of spring. 
Should you fail the first time you will know 
better the next. The guides I made from 
rather stiff brass wire and fashioned by winding 

DR. COATS’S HOME-MADE BAIT-CASTING ROD 
It was made from the tip of an ordinary bamboo pole and a cast-off handle; the guides were made by hand, of stiff 
fishing tackle. I have read many articles re- 
garding what to buy for artificial or live-bait 
casting and all advise getting a rod of split 
bamboo or some imported wood, like bethabara 
or lancewood, price from five dollars up; 
generally up. Also a reel from eight or ten 
dollars and upward. But to the man whose 
dollar looks as big as a millstone these prices 
are simply appalling. Behold I bring you 
tidings of great joy; they are unnecessary ex- 
penditures. A much smaller sum will outfit 
one to cast far and wide and, what is more, to 
get the fish. If I am searched I will be “‘found 
with the goods on me” to prove it. I know 
very little of the tournaments and competitive 
casting, but I have caught a few fish and for this 
work my own low-priced armament pleases 
me much. 
My rod? It is four feet ten inches long, and 
in two pieces. The butt, with the reel-seat, was 
brass wire, and the total net cost was, say, twenty-five cents 
around a stick. They should have three or 
four turns each, the first guide being about half 
an inch in diameter and the others a little 
smaller. Each side of the turns the wire should 
have a straight part which lies on the rod and 
is tied to it by linen thread, which is waxed and 
shellacked. 
The top guide is made the same, with the 
exception, of course, that both ends of the wire 
after forming the loops are brought backward 
along the sides of the tip and tied as are the 
others. The tip will be more resilient if the 
guides are not tied on the flat part of the cane, 
nor opposite, but on the side between these 
points. The wire should be heavy enough to 
stand firmly when once thoroughly tied. 
When complete, shellac the whole. An extra 
tip may be carried for long ‘trips in case of 
breakage. It will occupy very little room and 
requires very little care. They seldom break 
