SALMON FISHING 113 



so much so as to allow a fish being struck from it. Should a 

 pluck come at the fly during any moment of inattention — and if 

 fishing for hours without an offer the sharpest look-out is apt to 

 relax — then the fish does not get such a violent jerk as will be 

 the case if the reel is a stiff" one ; such a rise not having been 

 seen, the rod is mechanically and sharply raised as the pull is 

 felt, and in doing this a too severe strain is often put on 

 the tackle, which often results in the hook being left in the 

 fish. In streams, or in steadily moving waters, we are all 

 against working the fly, but as it sweeps into slack water, 

 some motion should be given to it, and even though the point 

 of the rod rise and fall a yard with each movement, if there is 

 a long line out, the fly itself will be moved but a few inches. 

 On many rivers there are high, steep banks overhanging the 

 pools, and on "dour" days it is instructive to hand the rod 

 over to the gillie, and creeping to the edges of such banks, the 

 fly can be watched as it explores the depths below. With a 

 small river on a bright day it is easy to see the fish lying 

 behind their resting-places, and in such a state of affairs they 

 will frequently bolt in all directions as the fly swings over 

 them, while not for some minutes will they return to their 

 accustomed places in the stream. At rare intervals a fish will 

 rise under such circumstances, but he does not come with a 

 dash, but with one sweep of his tail will shoot from his shelter, 

 and falling well below the fly while holding himself stationary 

 in the current by a trembling movement of fins and tail, his 

 mouth opens, the fly appears to fall into it, while with a down- 

 ward sweep he drives the hook home. 



Under such circumstances, to shout " Look out ! he's 

 coming," will almost always save the fish, as there are but 

 few who can keep their hands quiet while such an intimation 

 is excitedly made. Mechanically the point is raised only to 

 snatch the fly away, when rarely will the fish return. 



We remember, one bright June day, fishing the Cruive Pool 

 of the Awe with a small " Blue Doctor" we had dressed that 

 Q 



