118 BT HOOK AND BY CBOOE. 



The upper rod had fished down about 30 yds., and 

 now was casting over some large sunken rocks indi- 

 cated by a slight swirl on the surface of the water ; the 

 fly had worked about three quarters round, when it 

 was held at a point, the rod instantly raised, and some- 

 thing struck which gave two tugs in return, revealing 

 the fact that it was no fixture. He replied to the 

 pressure with a real good leap into the air, showing 

 himself to be a fresh-run fish of apparently about 

 16 lb. weight, then fell back with a smack into the 

 water, happily well clear of the line, and immediately 

 made a grand rush straight across the stream, running 

 out about 40 yards of line, and there remained for 

 some little time until the pressure of the rod began to 

 tell somewhat upon him, then by gradually reeling-up 

 we got him, comparatively speaking, under control 

 within about 20 yds. of the bank. 



Up to this point we had been standing up to our 

 middle in water, so we took advantage of this, the 

 first opportunity, to get out on to the bank, which, as 

 it happened, was no very easy job, as at this spot it was 

 rocky and high above the water-level. 



The fish was on his best behaviour during this man- 

 oeuvre, which, by-the-bye, should always be efffected 

 deliberately (as a sudden jerk caused by a slip may 

 be costly), and remained quiet for ten minutes or so, 

 until getting tired of inaction we applied extra pressure, 

 to which he responded by gently shifting up stream, 

 a move we by no means appreciated, as just above 



