FOREST AND STREAM 
1093 
THE ABSORBING TOPIC OF RODS 
ONE FOR EVERY KIND OF FISH, EVEN THOUGH 
THERE MAY NOT BE A FISH FOR EVERY ROD 
W HILE ii is a pleasant pastime and, of 
course, a good deal of satisfaction to the 
angler to construct his own rod, manu¬ 
facturers are placing on the market almost every 
conceivable kind of fishing rod at prices that fit 
most anyone’s pocket. So it is now only the 
dyed-in-the-wool enthusiast who still insists that 
balance, pliancy and strength can only be ob¬ 
tained in a homemade rod. 
The day of the “one rod for all fish” is now 
a thing of the past, with so many different 
methods of fresh water angling in vogue—bait 
casting, with artificial and natural baits, fly 
casting for large and small game fish, and troll¬ 
ing. The style of rod used in each method 
makes interesting study. 
Before the several styles of rods are discussed, 
a few words on the materials of which rods are 
made will not be out of place. Our English 
cousins do not favor the use of the bamboo 
stick as much as we on this side do. Here, split 
bamboo is used almost to the exclusion of any¬ 
thing else in the better” grade of rods. Solid 
wood is found only in the cheaper grades. 
Bamboo of good quality is usually made of 
either Toukin or Calcutta cane, in from six 
to eight strips, being either hexagonal or 
octagonal. As far as the merits of each are 
concerned, it is a toss up, with the favor, if 
there is any, being with the rod of six-strip 
construction. 
Of the solid wood rods, bethabara, greenheart, 
lancewood and hickory are the most popular, 
preferably in the order named. This last state¬ 
ment is, of course, open to discussion, but what 
item in the anglers equipment is not? 
There is one more material of which both bait 
casting and fly rods are made, and at the very 
least it deserves honorable mention. That is 
the rod of steel. 
Don’t throw your hands up, brother, and yell: 
“Put him out,” too hurriedly. For there are 
any number of experienced followers of the 
illustrious Sir Isaac with a warm spot in their 
hearts for the steel beauty, and it will—either 
in the short rod for bait casting, or the long rod 
for bait or fly work—stand the gaff and come 
back smiling. 
Now that we have seen of what materials 
rods in general are made, let us go back to the 
original discussion—the style of rod used in 
the several methods of sweet water angling. 
First consider the rod used for casting na¬ 
tural bait; minnow, crawfish, small frog and 
night walkers. Of course it is of bamboo, and 
should be about eight or nine feet in length. 
While a too heavy rod should be avoided it is 
inadvisable to sacrifice strength for the sake of 
lightness. A rod from 5% to 7 ounces would 
be considered about right. One used for natural 
bait casting must have a certain amount of bend 
and play to it, but at the same time plenty of 
backbone to stand the gaff, for in its use (par¬ 
ticularly in bass fishing), the angler will have 
a fight on his hands from the time of the strike 
until “Mr. Fish” lies in the bottom of the boat. 
The rod for the modern method of bait cast¬ 
ing, that with the short rod and the artificial lure, 
is made in three pieces of equal length; two 
pieces, short butt and long tip construction; 
and one piece, with butt either attached or de¬ 
tached. We will pass over the three-piece rod. 
Its only recommendation is that it is easy to 
By Bait Caster. 
carry, yet I have a three-piece rod that has had 
many an argument with “old Mr. Bronze-back,” 
and is still looking for more. 
The rod that meets all requirements and the 
one most generally used is the one with the 
short butt, long tip construction, in either bam¬ 
boo or steel. The popular length is 5 or 5% 
feet, but the length is best decided by the angler 
himself, for after he has been in the game for 
a time he will have very decided views on this 
matter. The usual weight of a rod of this kind, 
in bamboo, is from 5 to 6 ounces. If the rod 
is of steel it will weigh a little more. No one 
will, I think, dispute the fact that the one-piece 
rod has it on all others as to action. But when 
it comes to transporting it—that is an entirely 
different question. If you are a “regular bug” 
and must have a regular rod, by all means the 
one-piece, but hold your tongue for ever after 
if your “one-piece regular rod” gets knocked 
over and stepped on. 
Now for that seemingly delicate little wand 
of bamboo, that is the delight of every wader 
of the stream—the rod for fly fishing. The 
weight of this rod will depend a good deal on 
the strength of the angler. A very light rod, 
while, of course, not so tiresome to handle during 
a long day’s fishing, is harder to lengthen the 
line out with. However, a well known maker 
The Art of Nature and the Art of Rod Making 
Combined Tend to Create an Angler’s 
Paradise. 
of fly rods has placed on the market a two-piece 
rod 7 feet long that weighs 1% ounces, and a 
three-piece rod 8 feet long weighing only from 
2 to 2% ounces. It is claimed that the 2%-ounce 
rod has laid a fly ninety-two feet. Rods of 
this weight are, of course, for light trout angling. 
But still, if the angler is experienced, there is 
no reason why that prize winner cannot be 
landed as well. 
After having taken into consideration any 
number of circumstances under which the fly- 
caster finds himself, when all is said and done 
it is the fly rod weighing from five to six ounces, 
and from nine to ten feet in length, that, as a 
general thing, meets all requirements. 
Then next, the salmon rod. 
Few of us have the opportunity to angle for 
this “king of game fish,” as the majority of 
waters where this mighty fighter holds sway 
are closed to the general fishing public. But 
to those that have the privilege, the following 
may be of interest. 
Some years ago- when salmon fishing was in 
its infancy, the salmon fly rod was made in ex¬ 
treme lengths, weighing not ounces but pounds. 
This has been overcome in later years and we 
find the salmon rod of to-day about fourteen 
feet long and weighing from fourteen to twenty 
ounces. Here again has bamboo the call for the 
material of the rod, although wood rods of 
greenheart find great favor among some salmon 
fishermen. 
When the angler goes for lake trout, pike or 
muscallonge, the trolling outfit is used. All 
“now-a-day’s fishermen” have a bait-casting out¬ 
fit, and, as the mouse said, “this is the very 
cheese” for the work in hand. Here, once again, 
the steel rod shows its worth, and the choice 
lies with the angler between the rod of steel 
or split bamboo (with the little “iron toy” coming 
very near having the call) in lengths from four 
and a half to five and a half feet. 
One last word, as to fittings. If possible, all 
guides should be of agate. While, of course, 
agate guides are more or less expensive, they 
are worth it in the long run. If some of the 
guides are to be agate, let it be the first and 
tip guides, with the others of German silver. 
Reel seats and butt-tips in all first-grade rods, 
irrespective of kind, are as a rule made of Ger¬ 
man silver, the nickel trimmings being found on 
only the cheaper rods. 
Handgrasps are made of “solid cork,” or 
cork, are cane-wound, or of hard rubber or plain 
wood. All are good and will give general satis¬ 
faction except the “solid cork,” which is only 
thin coverings of cork glued over a wood handle. 
The cork has the call with the cane-wound 
handle second. 
On the subject of ferrules, a separate paper 
could be prepared. Let it therefore be enough 
to say that they should be of German silver, 
waterproof and serrated. Ferrules of this kind 
are always found on first-class rods. The cheaper 
grades have ferrules of nickel or cheap brass. 
Avoid them both. 
The tyro fisherman should remember that it 
will be impossible for him to buy a rod that will 
prove suitable for all kinds of fishing. Bait 
casting rods, it is true, can be used for trolling, 
but would be found impossible for fly work. 
Decide on the kind of fishing you want to do, 
then buy accordingly. 
