FISHING AS A SPORT 



is behind them; second, the salmon-fly, being usually 

 large and heavy-winged, would, if carried along by the 

 current, topple over and look unnatural ; whereas, 

 properly guided up stream, it deludes the fish into the 

 belief that it is some gaudy creature swimming spas- 

 modically against the tide. Therefore, the moment the 

 fly touches the water it is pulled round without delay into 

 the line of the current. 



Next, the fly must be made to show itself to its best 

 advantage and in all its glory. The rod is gently raised, 

 and the fly, rising with it, has its possibly ruffled plumes 

 smoothed down to its sides by the pressure of the water 

 above it ; then, lowering the rod again just as carefully, 

 the angler sinks his fly once more ; and this time the 

 water resistance being under it, the fibres of the wings 

 are spread open in a natural manner, displaying the 

 brilliant colouring of the fly, which is now in a condition 

 to beguile the first salmon that comes within sight of it. 



Henceforward the conscientious angler has no thought 

 to bestow on temperature or scenery or hunger or fatigue ; 

 eye and thought are both riveted on the graceful silvery 

 creature that is following the fly. He has heard as 

 who has not? of the lucky fisherman who once took, 

 with small trout tackle, a salmon in the Shannon that 

 weighed over forty-five pounds, and that required five 

 hours 1 playing before it was exhausted. There are salmon 

 weighing over fifty pounds in this river and, by the help 

 of the gods, he means to catch one of them. 



Talking of weight, it must be borne in mind that the 

 age of the salmon is no guarantee for its size. There are 



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