112 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 



Tourist: Is that all? I should have thought it was fully two pounds. 



Angler: You will notice now, there are many more 'hoppers on the 

 water, and look, you can see fish feeding on them all up and down the 

 river. See, there is a fish I want you to catch. 



Tourist : Now, tell me just what to do. Where shall I drop the fly ? 



Angler: The current is a little stronger here, so you had better drop 

 the fly about three feet above the fish. To be exact, just in line with 

 that little Avillow shoot. But, before you make your cast just cast 

 well off to one side, where there will be no danger of frightening the 

 fish, so as to see how the line is for length. 



Tourist: The fly has sunk. Why was that? 



Angler: I expect you aimed at a spot on the surface, whereas, you 

 should have tried to cast your fly in the air so as to strike a spot about 

 a foot above the surface. Then, the fly w^ould have fallen on the water 

 gently. 



Tourist : Will you dry the fly ? 



Angler : All right, but watch me closely. I throw the fly straight out 

 in front, then back and keep it moving quickly. Now it is dry. Try 

 again. 



Tourist : That is in the right spot. Here it comes over the fish ; no 

 good. 



Angler: You made a mistake then. When your fly has passed over 

 a feeding fish without any notice l)eing taken of it, let the fly float 

 well down below the fish before you lift the line off the water. 



Tourist: Shall I try again? 



Angler : No, I guess that fish is scared. We will move on and try for 

 that fish that has just made such a splash behind that weed. But don 't 

 try from above ; get below the fish and cast up stream. 



Tourist : How is this ? I think I can reach him from here. 



Angler: Take your time; wait till the fish has taken another 'hopper; 

 then you can locate him exactly. 



Tourist : There, he got that one, so here goes the fly. 



Angler: Ah, that ought to get him. He's got it! But what did 

 you do? 



Tourist: The leader broke and the fly is gone. 



Angler: I expect you struck too hard. Well, let us move down a 

 bit while I tie on another fly. 



When you strike a fish do not strike as though you wanted to throw 

 the fish out ; just make a slight upward motion with the rod and as 

 soon as you feel any resistance check the motion ; then, keep a tight 

 line on the fish, but do not try to see how much strain the tackle will 

 stand; just keep an even strain on the fish and keep the fish moving. 



Striking is really the most difficult thing to become proficient in. 

 If we were using ordinary gut, which is two or three times stronger 

 than what we are using, it would be much easier to successfully hook a 

 fish ; but the stouter gut M'ould be much more visible to the fish and 

 in all probability wc should not have many opportunities to strike at 

 a rising fish. 



Another thing to remember is tliis, big trout should not be struck 

 as quickly as you would strike smaller fish. The movements of the 

 larger fish are, to a certain extent, deliberate. As a rule, there are no 

 very near neighbors who might snatch the tempting morsel away. 



