The: ‘Angler’s Page 
Concluding the Chapter on’ Rods and Offering Some Suggestions on Their Care_ 
institution, its development having 
been centered in a wholly Ameri- 
ean fish—the black bass. In bait cast- 
ing the short rod and free running reel 
are employed. Rods of this type vary 
in length from four and a half to six 
feet and sometimes a few inches, more. 
The most popular length is five and a 
half feet. For ,the heavy plugs that 
are used commonly i in this style of fish- 
ing, a powerful rod must be employed. 
However, it is not a good thing to use 
Bis casting is purely an American 
» 
By W. J. SCHALDACH 
dbsolete and most men find it an en- 
cumbrance rather than a help. Good 
bait-casting rods may be purchased, 
ranging in price from five to forty 
dollars, the latter being hand made of 
the best materials. They are a real 
investment if the angler be an enthusi- 
astic bait-caster, because a well-made 
rod will give good service for a period 
of years, while a cheap one will wear 
out quickly. 
The fly rod is the epitome of grace 
and beauty, and when made by the 
, 
hands of a master craftsman ‘is com- 
parable to a rare violin or a’ fine’ old 
painting. Split bamboo is really, the 
only material in which this rod is‘at its 
best. Any of the woods commonly ‘used 
by rod makers are apt to prove heavy 
and slow in action, and a steel fly rod 
is practically an impossibility. 
Trout fly rods vary in length from 
six and a half feet to ten feet and in 
weight from three-fourths of one ounce 
to eight ounces. Formerly rods of 
eleven feet and even more were com- 
a rod that.is too .stiff and 
‘lub-like, because, . besides. 
tiring the wrist unhecessar- | 
ily, such a rod does nat cast” 
well. A. good plug rod 
should be moderately stiff, 
yet it should have a good 
kick and a very elastic ac- 
tion. 
' Many anglers are now 
turning away from: the 
such as pork rind spinners, 
weighted buck tails and the 
other smaller, artificial 
baits. When using these 
light lures, a 

ing not over five and one- 
half ounces and possessing 
plenty of whip is ideal for 
‘this kind of work. With a 
fine line and free running 
‘reel, this is a most pleasur- 
able method of angling. 
As with any other kind of 
rod, split bamboo is the best 
material that can be used 
for the bait-casting rod. 
Steel rods are satisfactory 
for plug fishing, but their 
weight is apt to make them 
tiring unless. one has a 
powerful wrist indeed. The 
ideal form of bait-casting 
rod is one made of one piece 
with detachable butt, but it 
is also the most inconve- 
nient kind, and for the aver- 
age angler, the short butt 
long tip construction before 
mentioned will -be. found 
most satisfactory. - 


qT! finger hook former-’ 
dy placed -on -all’ bait-! 
i. 
| 
heavy plugs to lighter lures, 
a lighter, more © 
flexible and longer rod is. 
needed. A rod six or even’ * 
six and a half feet, weigh- — 
The Brief Diary of a Rod 
APRIL 1ST 
iT am a fly-rod, neat, staunch and trim throughout 
my nine feet of resilient split bamboo. From my po- 
sition in the dealer’s showcase I look upon the world 
with pride, for I am the child of a craftsman whose 
work is sought all over the ansling realm. 
APRIL 2ND 
!I have been purchased by a short, stocky man, and 
am to be used on the morrow. My life-work is about 
to begin, yet | am not unduly enthused. This person 
handles me roughly. He whips me through the air too 
sharply and throws my butt-joint upon the table as 
though it were leaden pipe. Already one of my 
guides is bent. I fear for the future. 
APRIL 3RD 
We are on the stream, my owner and J. He has 
strung a fine tapered line through my guides, care- 
lessly however, for he has overlooked one of them. 
He begins casting. He seizes my grip and 
THRASHES me through the air madly. I do not re- 
spond kindly, so he whips me violently. There— 
by his awkward bungling he has succeeded in laying 
out thirty feet of line. A miracle! Some small and 
unsophisticated trout has taken the fly. The clumsy 
fellow whose servant I am, violates the angler’s first 
principle; he strikes with such force and awkward- 
ness as to throw the little trout high into the air and 
over his back. The strain is too great and my mid- 
dle joint snaps in twain. 
A black lock comes over the man’s face. He 
curses roundly. He jerks my joints apart, forces me 
rudely into my case and we leave the stream. 
APRIL 4TH 
I am back at the dealer’s again and shail be sent to 
the repair shop directly. The round-faced, bluster- 
ing individual who recently owned me has received 
his money and departed. He said I was made of de- 
fective material, but the dealer told his clerk, when 
the unwelcome customer had gone, that it was plainly 
a case of abuse, and that when I have a new second 
joint I shall be as good as ever. 
I suppose shopkeepers have to be diplomatic, but 
just between us I think that would-be angler got off 
easy. I surely hope that I may fare better in the 
future. If I am purchased by a thoughtful angler, I 
will serve him faithfully for many years, for my 
- maker has often said that an honest rod should last © 
‘|... the angler’s- life-time. 
casting rods is now Bimost: 5) 
WMA 
ageh ESe yf Ne’) . 
monly used, but since the 
advent of lighter tackle in 
general, our ideas of: rods 
have changed correspond- 
ingly. 
HE extremely light rods 
from less than one 
ounce to three ounces are 
practically playthings and 
can be used only under 
proper conditions. How- 
ever, in the hands of a skill- 
ful angler, trout up to three 
or even four pounds may be 
handled on a rod seven and 
one-half feet long, weigh- 
ing two and one-half ounces. 
Rods three and _ one-half 
ounces in weight, eight feet 
in length are quite efficient 
weapons for a skillful man 
on small streams where the 
casting distance is not much 
over forty feet. 
However, rods used by the 
average angler today are 
usually eight and one-half 
feet, four and _ one-half 
ounces; nine feet, five 
ounces, ‘and nine and one- 
half feet, five and one-half 
to six ounces. The length 
of the rod used is generally 
governed by the size and 
character of the water to 
be fished. Nine feet is gen- 
erally conceded to be the 
best length for an_ all 
around fly rod, and if it 
be fairly heavy and has 
plenty of backbone, it will 
do as well for lake work 
and for bass fly fishing as 
a longer rod. 
The nine foot rod has 
smashed all distance records 
in tournaments throughout 
the country. It has done 
Bot 
