FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



observed ; the flies should be dropped for a minute 

 or more in another direction. This helps to change 

 the salmon's eager curiosity to anger and fierceness, 

 and the next time he comes you are more likely to 

 hook him. After a few casts, if the fish is reluc- 

 tant to return to the charge, it is best to reel in and 

 change the fly ; this ruse will often bring success 

 at the next cast. 



A critical moment arrives with the strike. Very 

 little pressure beyond that yielded by the weight 

 of the fish is required to imbed the hook. There 

 is danger in too strong a jerk, which may snap the 

 fly, break the leader, or loosen the hook's fastening, 

 which would soon have been strengthened by the 

 rush. Here is where many fine fish are lost 

 through the angler's excitement. Luck must 

 determine the security of the hold ; but with the 

 salmon well hooked, a battle royal is on that may 

 end in thirty minutes or continue for hours. Now 

 is required the exercise of vigilance, judgment, 

 and coolness. No two salmon display the same 

 manoeuvres. One may be a rusher, another a 

 sulker. One may exhaust himself in constant leaps, 

 another may not appear above water ; one may 

 weary you with protracted gameness, another may 

 yield in a short time. Experience alone can teach 

 the alertness and action required to win in any 



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