"In no matter pertaining to the art of fly-fishing is there such discordance of opinion as in regard to the proper action and balance of the rod. In nothing does the old adage 'what is one man's meat is another man's poison' more fully apply.

The lengths preferred by different anglers, all thoroughly experienced and skilled, vary in about the same proportion as do the noses on their respective faces."

   In the paragraphs below, written by the most respected authorities of the day, notice how the perfect rod seems to shrink about a foot every 5 to 10 years or so.  The text is quoted verbatim.  The underlining emphasis is mine.

Rod Gods and Lesser Pontiffs . . .

1. Frank Forester, Fish and Fishing of the United States and British Provinces of North America, 1859
2. Thaddeus Norris, American Anglers Book, 1864
3. Genio Scott, Fishing in American Waters, 1875
4. Unknown, Notes on Salmon Fishing (1876), Fishing North America, 1876-1910
5. James A. Henshall, M.D., Book of the Black Bass, 1881
6. Henry P. Wells, Fly-rods and Fly-tackle, 1885

Frank Forester, Fish and Fishing of the United States and British Provinces of North America, 1859

  "The first thing to to be considered in the angler's equipment, is the rod, and it is here well to observe that, for almost every sort of fishing, some different and peculiar rod is essential.  That which is commonly called a general fishing rod, is, in fact, an abomination, and is useful only to the bait-fisher, and even for him is an awkward and ineffective instrument, it being impossible so to regulate the arrangement of the lower joints as to produce that regular and equable degree of pliancy alike with a stiff baiting or with a pliant fly-top.

  For the Salmon, the rod should not be of more than eighteen, or less than sixteen feet; the longer is apt to be a little cumbrous, and deftly to wield a double-handed Salmon-rod, during a whole summer-day, requires no small practice of the muscles.  The best wood for the butt, which should be very stout and solid, is well-seasoned maple, which is both light and strong; the second joint of ash, the third of hickory, and the fourth or top joint of equal parts of lance-wood, or split-bamboo, carefully spliced together.

  Many experienced anglers prefer to have their Salmon-rods manufactured without metal joints, but with neatly-cut and accurately-fitted scarfs, which are adjusted and firmly spliced together with strong waxed-end when at the river-side.

  The supposed advantage of this method is the greater certainty of the rod's holding together during a severe struggle, in the course of which a joint will sometimes be disengaged from the socket; and a greater equability of pliancy throughout the whole length, from the butt to the end, which is supposed to be in some degree impaired by the metallic ferrules into which the heads of the ferruled joints are inserted.

  In the present improved state of the manufacture of all sporting articles, I must however admit that these objections are, in my opinion, very fanciful, and that the trouble of splicing and unsplicing greatly exceeds the benefit derived from the practice.

  Nothing can be more beautifully regular and equal throughout their whole length, than the spring bend of the best English, Irish, Scottish,  and American Salmon-rods; and I may here record it as my deliberate opinion, that the best rods in the world are now manufactured in the city of New York, and that CONROY is superior, as a fly-rod maker, to either Chevalier or Martin Kelly, of universal reputation.  David Welch, too, has few equals, if superiors."

  "The implements of the Trout-fisher are similar; except in size and power, to those used in the capture of the Salmon; but as less strength is necessary to subdue, so is, perhaps, even greater delicacy requisite to ensnare him.

  The Trout-rod should be twelve feet long, and as pliant, almost, as a coach whip, equally bending from the butt to the tip.  It should be composed of hickory, lancewood, or bamboo, with a solid butt of ash, at the extreme lower end of which should be attached a simple clicker reel with a balance handle, but without a stop, capable of containing thirty yards of London made hair and silk line, tapering equally from the reel to the point."

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Thaddeus Norris, American Anglers Book, 1864

  "A rod of sixteen feet, which I deem sufficiently long, need not weigh over two pounds two ounces; and one of seventeen feet should not exceed two pounds six ounces.  Of the two, I prefer the smaller, on account of the ease in casting with it, for it is no boy's play to wield a heavy Salmon-rod for hours.  The smaller has power enough to kill any Salmon. ... The butt should be of the best coarse-grained white ash; the second joint of hickory or ironwood; the third of lance or ironwood; and the tip of the best Malacca cane, rent and glued."

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Genio Scott, Fishing in American Waters, 1875

  "Persons who have never practiced the angler's gentle art can scarcely appreciate the feelings which well up in the soul of an expert who has studied nature, the habits of trout, and the devices necessary to present lures gracefully for their acceptance.  His fly-rod is twelve and a half feet in length, including a telling-top of split bamboo."

  "FLY RODS. - Rods made from split bamboo are unquestionably the best in use; but a Robert Welch rod, of ash for the butt and second joint, lancewood for the third, and split bamboo for the fourth or top joint, is the best rod that I have ever owned for general fly-fishing.  The split bamboo rod is much lighter, and full as desirable.  A rod should not be under twelve feet in length, and I would rather have it six inches over, or so made with duplicate top and third joints as to make it either twelve or twelve feet six, though my longest rod is only twelve feet and two inches long."

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Notes on Salmon Fishing (1876), Fishing North America, 1876-1910

  "In the matter of rods, the conservative man still clings to a well-made wooden one of greenheart or other approved wood, of which the taper and strength are so accurately proportioned that the addition of but a few ounces at the end of the line carries the main bend or arch nearer the butt end.  Those not so conservative, and who are fond of lessening in every practicable way the somewhat tedious labor of casting the fly, should choose a rod of split bamboo, which weighs about two pounds.  My own weighs but twenty-seven ounces, although nearly sixteen feet long.  No one will risk himself upon a stream without extra rod, reels, and lines, and if he takes a greenheart and split bamboo he has as good rods as are made."

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James A. Henshall, M.D., Book of the Black Bass, 1881

  "I start out with the proposition that a first-class American, single-handed Trout fly-rod is, per se, the very perfection of rods and the chef 'doevre of the rod-maker's art.  Such a rod is about eleven feet long, and is made of split bamboo, or a combination of ash and lancewood, and should weigh from seven to nine ounces.  ... A Salmon rod is only a Trout rod enlarged, proportionately, in every particular, and made to be used with two hands instead of one."

  "The following table of relative weights and measurements of section-bamboo fly-rods, which, however, can only be approximate, is furnished by Messrs. Abbey & Imbrie, No. 48 Maiden Lane, New York City: "

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Henry P. Wells, Fly-rods and Fly-tackle, 1885

  "Ten feet, or ten feet six inches, I believe to be quite sufficient to give to any single handed fly-rod.  With this, ordinary skill can handle sixty feet of line at a pinch; and we all know that in actual fishing nine hundred and ninety casts out of a thousand will fall within forty measured feet."

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Other than that, size matters NOT.

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Thomas C Kerr
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Tom Kerr