Untitled - RB-Flys

12 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH.
I find a great convenience in having my jack-rods (as well
as my fly-rods) furnished with several tops of different lengths
the more the better. By this means one rod will, at a pinch,
often answer for several purposes, and the necessity of carrying
about a large stock of rods on the off chance of some other
fishing than that counted on turning up, will often be avoided.
For instance, the 'composite spinning-rod' above described
answers with a somewhat longer top exceedingly well for '
pater-
nostering,' or for minnow-spinning for trout, for barbelling,
worm-fishing for salmon, and, indeed, for any purpose (except
fly-fishing) where strength is a more important point than length,
or than extreme lightness. When driven into a corner I hare
even, and not unsuccessfully, used it for casting the fly, and
I calculate roughly that if the number of salmon I have caught
with it with minnow, fly, or worm (in
the manner described in
the last volume), were laid head and tail, they would put a girdle
round Trafalgar Square.
The length of this rod is twelve feet, and for my own part
I never care about fishing with a longer one. Many spinners,
however, patronise a rod of more ample proportions, and
indeed it is evident that a rod which would be the perfection
of length for a man of five feet nine or ten, would not do
justice to the physical capabilities of a trailer of six feet three,
to say nothing of the well-known Irish giant of jack-fishing
celebrity, the staff of whose rod might be (and is for aught I
know) like a weaver's beam. There is a record of a very small
troller with a very big rod whose fate, if it may not serve
To point a moral or adorn a tale,
yet carries with it a caution to reflecting pike- fishers. At the
first cast his heavy rod overbalanced his light body, and lie
tumbled out of the punt, below New Lock Weir, and was
drowned.
One general rule may, I think, be laid down with regard to
tops : the larger and heavier the baits used the shorter should
be the top joint.