Casting the Fly 359 



Humanity alone would prompt this, for if the 

 trout does not feel pain, because of the impalement 

 of the hook in the jaw where a minimum of its 

 nervous system exists, it certainly must suffer in 

 a degree, and not a slight one, from enforced cap- 

 tivity, the final result of which he evidently fears 

 will be death. Why else his frantic struggles to 

 escape ? Besides, a trout quickly killed and 

 creeled will retain its natural color and the choice 

 flavor of its flesh much longer than one dallied 

 with on a springing rod. To bring a trout 

 quickly to the creel, it is not necessary to yank 

 him incontinently out of the water, for the strain 

 of the tense arch of the rod will soon bring him 

 to the exhaustion stage, when he can be quietly 

 netted, killed, and creeled ; albeit he may recover 

 suddenly when seemingly exhausted, and make a 

 final struggle to escape from your hand, as you 

 take the hook from his mouth. 



In playing a hooked trout you must feel him 

 constantly; your rod with its elastic give and 

 take quality will greatly aid you in doing this. 

 When necessary, as a trout runs toward you, 

 which infrequently occurs, back away and reel up 

 rapidly; and when you have him well in hand, and 

 the line is retrieved on the reel to a little more 



