88 



power of striking your fish if he rises, and that 

 of getting a good sweep for your next throw." 



A very ancient author, whose name we can- 

 not learn, says, " Be sure in casting, that your 

 flie fall first into the water; if the line fall 

 first, it scare th the fish; therefore, draw it hack, 

 and cast again, that the fiie may fall first. 

 When you angle in slow rivers, or still places, 

 with the artificial flie,' cast your flie over cross 

 the river, and let it sink a little in the water, 

 and draw him gently back again, so as you 

 break not the water, or raise any circles or mo- 

 tion in the water, and let the current of the ri- 

 ver carry the flie gently down with the stream ; 

 and this way I have found the best sport in 

 slow muddy rivers with the artificial flie." 



Hooking or Striking a Fish : The moment 

 you see or feel a fish rise at you the moment 

 that you perceive, either by sight, touch, or 

 hearing, that you have a rise strike instanta- 

 neously, or at longest within half a second's 

 pause, but strike very gently. The motion 

 necessary for a successful strike, is performed 

 by chucking the wrist rather sharply back- 

 wards, and slightly outwards towards the right. 

 This operation is an extremely delicate one; 

 and if performed too hastily and w T ith too much 

 force, you will almost invariably fail in hooking 



