EGGS FOR GRANDMOTHERS 45 



should fish deeper for autumn fish that have been in 

 the river some time than for salmon fresh from the 

 sea. But there is no rule without an exception, and 

 if a fish declines your lure or rises short when it is 

 presented to him in one way, try another method. 

 Do not, however, go on too long at a time at short 

 rising fish ; mark the exact place either physically, 

 mentally, or both, and when you return after fishing 

 the rest of the pool, your patience will often be 

 rewarded by a taking rise and a tight line. Next 

 comes the most debated point on which to give 

 advice, namely, ' the strike.' 



' To strike or not to strike, that is the question.' 

 Here again it is impossible to lay down a hard and 

 fast rule. In a strong stream it is better certainly not 

 to strike at all, unless for some reason a whole suc- 

 cession of fish have been ' rising short,' in which case 

 a sharp and decided stroke may hook one foul, when 

 'look out for squalls,' especially if the fly fixes itself 

 in the middle of the fish. A foul-hooked fish always 

 makes a desperate fight, as you have no control over 

 his movements, and the water does not get into his 

 gills to exhaust him ; and if he happen to be hooked 

 in the side he catches the whole weight of the water 

 even after he is fairly killed, and it is most difficult to 

 bring him to the gaff. I once remember severely 



