68 



The Gentle Art of Angling. 



appetite with the glitter of a 

 Wickham fancy. If you think 

 he has an eye on the dropper, 

 gradually let it down towards 

 him, jauntily tripping on the sur- 

 face, as if it had not a care in the 

 world. Whatever you do, do not 

 let him see an inch of silk line. 

 He may have been hooked before, 

 and be gifted with a memory that 

 recalls painful associations. If 

 all these dodges fail, go away for 



How to Attach Fly to Casting line. 



Top Loop undrawn. 

 Bottom Loop drawn tight. 



half an hour, and come back 

 again. 



When he does come, as he may, 

 with a dash, do not spoil all your 

 labour by striking so heavily as 

 to cause a smash. It is easily 

 done, and probably will happen, 

 despite the wisest counsel. It is 

 prudent for one to school himself 

 against growing heavy-handed. 

 When one has been fishing for 

 hours, without stirring a tail, and 



dreaming of something totally 

 different, the sudden dash of a 

 fish is likely to cause an involun- 

 tary jerk of the arm fierce enough 

 to harpoon a whale. Then some- 

 thing happens, which gives cause 

 for moments of silent but painful 

 reflection. If the fish were only 

 to give us notice that he was 

 coming, we might be calm ; he 

 prefers storming our nerves un- 

 mercifully. Striking from the 

 winch is one way of counter- 

 balancing violent action, but it is 

 not always possible. The left 

 hand often holds the line, which, 

 of course, prevents the reel from 

 immediately unwinding. It is 

 better to face the vice and deter- 

 mine not to do it, and to firmly 

 school oneself against impetu- 

 osity. A turn of the wrist is all 

 that is needed, and one can prac- 

 tise this when fish are not rising, 

 and make up one's mind to risk 

 losing fish by not stiking at all 

 rather than lose them, plus flies 

 and gut, by violent measures. 



When a fish is hooked, the 

 slack line should be reeled in 

 until a firm hold is gained by the 

 rod. This is the first stage in 

 playing. If well hooked, there is 

 little fear of losing him. except 

 by breaking the gut or fly. By 

 leaving the reel free to run when 

 he makes a rush this is not likely 

 to happen, and by keeping him 

 away from the bank dangerous 

 obstacles may be avoided. A 

 little firm pressure will be suffi- 

 cient to control his movements. 

 He should be allowed his own 

 sweet will, except when he tries 

 to get into mischief; in that case 

 sterner methods must be risked. 

 When a trout is exhausted he rises 

 to the surface and turns on his side. 

 The landing net should be held 

 in the right hand in readiness. It 

 is best to slightly sink it in the 

 water, and draw him over and 

 into it. Care must be taken not 



