TROUT FLY-FISHING IN AMERICA 



large trout would lift a small or medium-sized trout out 

 of the water and sometimes land it in the boat or out on 

 the bank. 



As a general proposition one does not strike as hard 

 when fishing fast-running water as when fishing lakes or 

 slow-running streams, because in fast water the fish helps 

 to hook itself, especially a Brown Trout. 



The proper striking of a trout is one of the most im- 

 portant elements in fly-fishing, be it wet or dry, and the 

 angler who cannot strike and hook the trout that rise to 

 his fly without yanking them out of the water, or tearing 

 the hook from their mouth, or repeatedly breaking lead- 

 ers, is not a good fly fisherman. 



And this remains true, no matter how perfectly he may 

 cast or how well he may play his flies. Unless he can 

 properly strike and hook his trout he is not, as I have said, 

 a good fly fisherman. 



Patience, observation and experience, if properly ap- 

 plied, will enable any angler to acquire the ability of strik- 

 ing and hooking his fish under most conditions. 



Whether or not to "strike from the reel" or from a 

 "hand-held line'' is one that has been discussed by an- 

 glers for many years and perhaps I am not far wrong 

 when I say it still is quite a subject of conversation among 

 them when around the camp-fire after a day's sport with 

 the rod. 



The temperament of the angler and his ability to con- 

 trol his strike, to my mind, are what eventually determine 

 the question for every fisherman. Personally I never 



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