50 THE GPwASSHOPPER, ETC. 



ing, be iipivard^ the first play of the top of 

 the rod is do^vniDard ; wliich slackens the line, 

 and gives the fish an opportunity of shaking 

 the fly out of his mouth. But in striking 

 doumivard, the first play of the top of the rod 

 is upward; which clearly, by tigldening the line, 

 fixes the hook instantly. I may mention, in 

 proof of this being no mere theory, that I have 

 often killed fish, when others were complaining 

 that they came so short as to be scarcely felt: 

 — a feat I consider attributable to this method 

 of striking. In striking upward, watch the point 

 of your rod ; you will see its first inclination to 

 be down : strike downward, and you will see it 

 spring up ; — a secret worth knowing. 



A light and accustomed hand will often feel 

 the fish in time to strike successfully. But I 

 think the eye is more to be depended upon than 

 the hand, particularly in Grayling-fishing — the 

 bite of the Grayling being so delicate as to be 

 often unfelt. The float — if it can be so called — 

 is designed merely as a guide to the eye. It is 

 to answer no purpose of showing whether the 

 bait be at the bottom or whether it be not — 

 the hand alone must ascertain that. 



