should be gathered in the fall of the Leaf, when
the Sap is in the Roots, for after January it as∣conds
into the Trunk and Branches, and then they
are not good. Let them be the best Rush-ground
Shoots you can get, not knotty, but proportio∣nable
streight and Slender; the Boughs and ex∣crescent
Twigs should be presently cut off, but
not close, for sear of cutting any of the Bark,
which is not only an Eyesore, but a weakning
to it. [ 10]
Having thus prepared your Rods, lay them on
a flat Floor with a good weight on them, to keep
them from warping; but contrarywise some hang
them against the Wall of a Room on small Tacks,
with the great ends downwards, which is held
the best way, and about February you may pare
off the knots close; and when they are well sea∣soned
and fitted to your liking, ••ix on the Loops
of Silk or Hair at the small ends; but by the
way note, that they are not fully seasoned till a∣bout [ 20]
a Year and a half; and if they were kept
two Years, they would be the better.
For preserving of these Rods or Tops from
rotting, or Worm eating, 'tis good to rub them
over twice or thrice a year with Sallet or Linseed
Oyl, or with Sweet Butter that hath no Salt in it,
chasing it well in; and if the Stocks or Tops of
your Rods cast with lying, Bath them, and set
them in a gentle Straw Fire, which will bring them
right again. [ 30]
Rods may be Distinguished into four Sorts, viz.
the Trowling Rod, the Snaping Pole, the Angling
Rod, and the Fly Rod.
The Trowling Rod is the largest, at the top of
which is put a short piece of Wood, about six
Inches long, with a strong Wire Ring to guide
your Trowling Line.
The Snaping Pole ought to be so strong and
large, as the Angler can well Manage, and to
be of a Tough, and well grown Taper Pole of one [ 40]
piece, and such that will bear a Fish of about
ten or twelve pound weight, to throw out of
the Water.
The Angle Rod ought to be of two, or more
Joynts of Cane, or Wood as aforesaid.
The Fly Rod must be small, curiously Taper,
and light to be managed with one Hand.
In a word, the great Art of making Rods is,
that they be curiously Taper, and in all parts
of a quick Spring proportionable; for if it is not [ 50]
in all parts of an equal Spring, you will seldom
strike sure, and by consequence endanger the lo∣sing
the Fish.
The top Rods being short, are to be joyned to
Stocks, Art having supplyed the Defect of Na∣ture.
Your Stocks may be either of a good
ground Ash, or Witch-hasel about nine or ten Foot
long, gathered as aforesaid; and be sure it come
not to the Fire until the Spring, then if you find
it well Seasoned, set it exactly, otherwise allow [ 60]
longer time. Take not off the outward Rind, and
either by its own Nature, or your Art get it to
be of a good brown Colour, so that it make no
Reflection in the Water; if you mix a little Ca∣pons
Grease with Spanish Brown, and rub the Rod
over therewith before a gentle Fire, you vvill
quickly bring it to its right hue. In the small
end of the Stock, bore a Hole vvith a Taper bit,
about four Inches deep, and of a convenient
size to receive the biggest end of the Top Rod, and
have it Ferretted; and the reason of doing it so,
is to preserve the Stock from Splitting where the
Hole is made. Your Top Rod should be about a
yard and a half long, with the upper rind pre∣served
intirely about it, and the top though pli∣ant,
yet must be so strong to endure the ••erk
of a Trout or Carp.
At the small end fasten the Loop either of
Silk, or Hair, wherein to place the Line, but
of all Tops questionless the Whalebone is the best,
being plyant and strong.
The largest Joynt which is the outward Joynt,
and carrieth all the rest as in a case, ought to be
either a Female Bambu Cane, or else a red Sallow,
these being the freest from warping, and a piece
seven or eight Foot long vvill carry longer and
better Taper Joynts than a piece of the same sort
ten Foot long; and for the inward Joynts Hasel
is the best, which Joynt or Joynts must be in
length proportionable to the size of the outward
Joynt, both to length, and to make it exactly a
Rush Taper.
If your Rod be of many pieces, they are then
of Canes or Hasel, exactly bored through to re∣ceive
each other, the ends being neatly hooped
about with Sockets of Brass or Silver, as before
taken notice of. And thus may you carry a Rod
of fifteen or sixteen Foot long, like a walking Staff;
but these being bought at the Shops of those
that sell Fishing Tackle, and at such easy Rates, I
shall say no more, advising you rather to buy
them, than to be at the trouble to make
them.