12 WET OR SUNK FLY-FISHING. 



quickly felt, and the effect of the strike is more 

 instantaneous. It is necessary, of course, to raise 

 the finger as soon as the trout is hooked; but 

 after a little practice it will be found that this is 

 done instinctively. Striking from the reel may 

 be required when only large trout are to be looked 

 for, but in most of our Scotch rivers the plan we 

 recommend is perfectly safe. 



LANDING TROUT. After the trout is hooked, it 

 ought, if a small one, to be basketed in the 

 quietest and most expeditious manner possible. 

 One of any size, however, cannot be dealt with in 

 this summary fashion ; indeed the process of run- 

 ning a heavy trout with a small hook and fine 

 tackle requires the utmost skill and caution. The 

 moment it is fast the line should be allowed to 

 run freely from the reel, and the point of the rod 

 raised to the perpendicular. At first no more 

 strain should be brought to bear than is necessary 

 to keep the line tight, but as the trout becomes 

 exhausted he can be kept more in check. The 

 exact amount of pressure to be exercised can only 

 be learned by experience, but it is better to err on 

 the side of gentleness. A slack line, however, is 

 to be avoided above all things, as it will almost 

 certainly enable the trout either to expel the hook 

 from his mouth or to break the tackle by a sudden 

 rush. If he should leap into the air the point of 

 the rod must be lowered at once, only, however, 



