184 WHEN YOU SHOULD NOT PLAY A FISH, 



Your rods and lines for bottom-fishing being 

 less delicate than those used in fly-fishing, you 

 may frequently after a very short struggle lift 

 your fish out of the water. In many instances, 

 particularly when you alight upon a shoal of 

 small-sized fish, you should give as little play as 

 possible, bringing your fish at once to the surface 

 of the water and out of it with all despatch. 

 Barbel and large chub should not be pulled at 

 fiercely at first, but be allowed to sink and run 

 moderately, under a pretty tight bearing-rein, 

 just sufficiently so to prevent them carrying their 

 noses whithersoever they fancy; and when you 

 feel their obstinacy becoming lax, present the 

 butt-end of your rod to them, and try their 

 strength under a shortened and taut line. If you 

 feel there is danger in bearing so hard, relax the 

 strain on your tackle, and indulge your captive 

 with a short swim or two. The weight of the 

 line he will have to drag will clog his movements, 

 and as soon as you begin to bear on him again 

 you will see his head turn towards you, and his 

 enfeebled fins, fast losing their propelling powers, 

 beat the water languidly. Bring his exhausted 

 head above water, and down into your landing 

 net with proper economy of time. In fishing with 

 a single hair-line, you must always cautiously play 

 your fish, very small though he may be. But 

 when with such a line you hook a monster fish, 



