42 FISHING. 



artificial fly, is instantaneously aware that it is 

 counterfeit, and never attempts to swallow it, 

 frequently letting it go before the angler has time 

 to strike ; so it is of the utmost importance to 

 strike immediately, and this is the reason why a 

 quick eye and a ready hand are considered the 

 most necessary qualifications for a fly-fisher. 



A trout takes a fly and makes the motion 

 termed a rise, which consists of their turning to 

 go down ; the angler therefore does not see the 

 break on the surface until the trout has either 

 seized or missed the fly ; so that he Irs already 

 lost so much time, and should strike immediately. 



Striking should be done b}^ a slight but quick 

 motion of the wrist, not by any motion of the 

 arm, and to strike in the direction the rod is 

 moving at the time. In fishing up, the rise of a 

 trout is by no means 'so distinct as in fishing 

 down. They frequently seize the fly without 

 breaking the surface, and the first intimation the 

 angler gets of their presence is a pull at the line. 

 The utmost attention is therefore necessary, to 

 strike the moment the least motion is either seen or 

 felt. This is in some measure owing to the flies 

 being in general a little under water, but prin- 

 cipally to the fact that trout take a fly coming 

 down stream in a quieter and more deadly 

 manner than a fly going up. Seeing it going up 



