Here's a little excerpt from an article I ran on my blog today illustrating how to collect and display rods. It is from an 1891 edition of The New York
Times.
The tools of the fisherman can be arranged on the walls in a tasteful manner without difficulty. A little bunch of highly-colored artificial flies is pretty to look upon and will brighten a wall wonderfully. Then the finely polished rods laid crosswise or curved into the shape they take when a big trout is making for the lower end of the pool show off to advantage....To collect rods of different styles is often means of amusement in Winter to those who are fond of keeping their fishing instincts at a fever heat. The variety of rods made is so great that a collection will soon prove ponderous. It is pretty to look at, however, and will serve to entertain piscatorial visitors for hours. A rod is constructed for almost every fish that swims, and the varieties of woods used and the mountings prepared are many. In the same way collections of artificial flies are gathered. The number of styles of flies and variations of well-tried kinds now reaches up into the thousands....Those who use their rods and other tackle for decorative purposes in Winter will do well to keep an eye on their condition. The rods should be kept in racks if they are ever to be used for practical angling again.
-- Dr. Todd
The tools of the fisherman can be arranged on the walls in a tasteful manner without difficulty. A little bunch of highly-colored artificial flies is pretty to look upon and will brighten a wall wonderfully. Then the finely polished rods laid crosswise or curved into the shape they take when a big trout is making for the lower end of the pool show off to advantage....To collect rods of different styles is often means of amusement in Winter to those who are fond of keeping their fishing instincts at a fever heat. The variety of rods made is so great that a collection will soon prove ponderous. It is pretty to look at, however, and will serve to entertain piscatorial visitors for hours. A rod is constructed for almost every fish that swims, and the varieties of woods used and the mountings prepared are many. In the same way collections of artificial flies are gathered. The number of styles of flies and variations of well-tried kinds now reaches up into the thousands....Those who use their rods and other tackle for decorative purposes in Winter will do well to keep an eye on their condition. The rods should be kept in racks if they are ever to be used for practical angling again.
-- Dr. Todd
