i'ii w-r. ii. The Mahserts first nuh. 



The waters wild 



Go o'er your ohild, 



And yon nn- left lamenting. 



You must tisli in a state of constant and careful preparedness for 

 this sudden and impetuous rush ; for there is no use in hooking a 

 fish if he is to break yon immediately. Even yonr very reel must 

 be looked to that it runs easily, that it is not fouled and clogged 

 by use, that do treacherous Band has got in from laying down your 

 rod and reel by the river side, for when a heavy fish goes off with 

 racehorse speed, he will take no denial, and woe betide you if you 

 cannot promptly oblige him with the line he wants. If be 

 cannot get it fast enough to please him, he will break it. All this 

 may be true of the salmon too, but it is pre-eminently so with 

 reference to the Mahseer. and more than ordinary attention should 

 be paid to it accordingly. 



A single turn of the line round the top of the rod does not 

 always catch the eye at once, and is much more likely to occur 

 while spinning than when fly fishing. It is well therefore to test from 

 time to tine' whether or not all is free. This can easily be done 

 by taking a pull at the line close to the winch. If it runs freely 

 through the top, well, but if it does not, get vein- bait out of the 

 water as quickly as possible, to avoid accidents. Out with it at all 

 costs without a moment's hesitation. Never think of risking it, for 

 it is not a mere risk but a certainty that if you have the misfortune 

 to get a run in that plight you will also get a smash somewhere, 

 and not improbably of your rod. If you are too lazy to remedy 

 the evil immediately let me venture to suggest that it would be 

 better that you should retire from business. 



A pliable rod is in my opinion a matter of great moment in 

 Mahseer fishing. The rush is so sudden and so violent that the 

 hand, be it ever so light, cannot answer to it sufficiently quickly. 

 and with a stiff rod the mischief is done in the very first tug 

 Whereas if yon have a pliable rod it yields instantaneously to the 



tug, it yields before you have felt the tug down at tl fcher end of 



the rod in your hand, and the first thing yon are aware of is the 

 noise of the revolving check winch, [fyon have a stiff rod yon will 

 require to strengthen your tackle, that is, you will be at the dis- 

 advantage of not being aide to fish so fine. 



It is friction that yon get rid of in a pliable rod; or. to speafc 



