Omaha daily bee., 1921-06-05
WOODS and
WATERS
By LARRY ST. JOHN
HEAVY Trout Rods.

Your grandfathcr's fly rod---if he
had onc--was heavier than yours.
But il this idea gives you a glow OF
satisfaction, ii it makes you feel
that your sportsmanship is greater
than was grandad's, stop reading
now and enjoy it, before | remind
you that, while his rod was heavier,
it also was longer--12 or Is feet or
more-wth much more weight IN
the butt than is favored nowadays.
Remember, too, that grandad could
not use the "punchy' rod now in
favor, even if they made them that
way, because his hne leader of
horschair or sewing silk wouldn't
permit it.
According to present day stand
ards, any American made fly rod of
split bamboo weighing over five
and one-half ounces is heavy trout
rod; in fact; one seldom sees fly
rod weighing more than seven
ounces. In other words, the mod
ern American fly rod for trout fish
ing ranges between those two
weights and a length of nine, nine
and one-half, or 10 feet.
For fishing for the big trout of
Maine, the Nipegon region, other
Lake Superior waters, and the 500,
a fly rod of ordinary construction
weighing better than six ounces will
be none too heavy True, big trout
are often caught on lighter rods, but
it is better to have a little margin
on weight when fishing in waters
where big trout-great big trout, in
fact-are probable, not merely pos
siblc.
Besides, the fish may not be rising
when you are there, and YOU may
want to do some bait fishing with
your fly rod. We all know that most
big trout arc caught on bait anyway,
regardless of what the proud angler
may have tied to his leader when he
brings the fish into camp. In the
Nipegon country, for instance, to
every big trout caught on flies there
are a dozen taken on the cockatoush
or other live bait
The tournament style fly rod of
91a feet, weighing 5H or 54 ounces,
is ideal for all around heavy fishing.
Such rod has sufficient backbone
to pick up long line cleanly and
possesses more power than ordinary
rods of like weight. Most anglers
will agree that it is the rod for the |
heavier kind of trouting, and for
casting flies and spinners or floating
bugs" for black bass.
Tournament rods originally were
made for competitive distance cast
ing. With the revival of dry fly fish
ing anglers were quick to seize upon
the tournament casters weapon.
They are now made with larger
handles and vary somewhat in
weight, as the weight restrictions OF
The casting platform fortunately do
not apply to the stream.
1t may sound like heresy but |
doubt if the tournament
ype of rod is as suitable for dry fly
fishing as most dry fly fishermen
seem to believe. Certainly one does
lot need such powerful rods to cast
ordinary dry fly distances. and the
wo or three false casts made in dry
ng the fly and reaching the desired
pot are not unduly trying to an
ordinary, we'll made rod.
1t seems bit out of place to use
'owerful rod, a heavy line, and a
eader with a 3X fine point, even
.ranting that there is always more
r less slack when striking a fish in t
pstream fishing. ....
1t is noteworthy that many of the {
xpert British dry fly fishermen
1cluding Mr. Halford-used lighter '
DDS as they gained in experience, $
nd we can see similar tendency
mong our own experts. +