ON TROUTING WITH THE FLY 61 



repeat, striking from the reel in such fish- 

 ing is a mere waste of muscular energy. 

 Lightness of hand, keenness of eye, steady 

 application, are seemlier, quieter, quicker. 

 The muscular arm effect, judging from the 

 excited contortions some anglers indulge in 

 who c strike from the reel,' is a sheer need- 

 less waste of vital force. Let me repeat, 

 the true action is as you would 'Turn a 

 key in a well-oiled lock, quickly and quietly 

 but firmly, with a scarcely perceptible, yet 

 decided, raising from the wrist/ 



But, if you are fishing up either with or 

 against a strong breeze, too strong for com- 

 fortable fishing, as is often experienced, and 

 when it is often extremely difficult to prevent 

 your line from 'bellying' in the water, and by 

 the wind, even when short, then often vigorous 

 striking is necessary in order to convey the 

 action quick enough to the terminal strands. 

 At all other times ' quiet and gentle but 

 firm' does it. The angler who can fish a 

 reach or succession of streams and pools 

 and broken water, quickly and quietly as 

 above, has ten times more pleasure than the 

 '* man of cubits and a pole.' He kills better 



