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CHAPTER XV. 

 SALMON FLY-FISHING. 



HAVING described the equipment 

 for salmon angling, we now ap- 

 proach a pool. Two flies may be 

 mounted if the river is fairly rapid 

 and clear of weeds ; one is better 

 if there is danger of fouling. Be- 

 ginning at the top, the fishing is 

 pursued down stream. A few 

 yards of line are drawn from the 

 reel, and the first cast made close 

 into the near bank, standing well 

 back, so that no shadow is thrown 

 on the river. The top of the rod 

 is raised when the flies touch the 

 water, the current catches them, 

 and they are carried down stream. 

 A slight movement of the hand 

 and wrist sways the top of the 

 rod, causing the flies to swim in 

 short, sharp jerks. This makes 

 the wings open and close in a life- 

 like movement. The action is 

 accelerated when the line is carried 

 to its full extent, and the flies 

 begin to work up against the cur- 

 rent. In swift rapids the force of 

 the water imparts sufficient life to 

 the flies, and very little wrist 

 movement, if any, is required. 

 There is something more than 

 fancy in this action of the 

 rod. The number of times one 

 hooks a salmon as the flies are 

 being lifted for a fresh cast 

 show that fish snap at a moving 

 object. 



In deep, sluggish water, the flies 

 are allowed to sink and rise more 

 deliberately. The arm in that 

 case moves from the elbow a 

 plan that is very effectual in en- 

 ticing salmon. In this fashion, 

 yard by yard, the line is drawn 

 from the reel until the whole pool 

 is carefully fished. It is a mistake 



to hurry over reaches where the 

 salmon are known to lie. They 

 should be rested now and again, 

 and the flies changed. In this, 

 as in most cases, familiarity 

 breeds contempt. Salmon, like 

 trout, have their moods, and the 

 rise may come on any moment. 

 If a fish breaks the water, but 

 does not take the fly, one has to 

 judge whether he refused it pur- 

 posely or not. If it has been 

 missed by accident, such as in 

 pulling away the fly as he was 

 about to take it, it should be 

 offered again without a moment's 

 delay. The salmon is probably 

 looking about, and speculating on 

 its sudden disappearance. Cast it 

 on the spot where he rose, and in 

 all likelihood he will not miss it 

 the second time. If the rise is 

 a shy one, wait a few minutes. 

 He may come a second or third 

 time, in which case a change to 

 a smaller fly or a different pattern 

 may bring him up to the scratch. 

 It frequently happens that a shy 

 fish that rises and misses in the 

 morning will take for a certainty 

 towards evening the moment he 

 is covered. 



The tail fly or leader is, as a 

 rule, taken under water. There 

 is no break, but a pull is felt. 

 Unless it is a short rise, such an 

 intimation shows that the fish has 

 gripped the hook. If it happens 

 in a strong current, where one 

 generally fishes with a short line, 

 the strike should be a gentle one, 

 letting the reel run immediately. 

 If a long line is out, and the water 

 sluggish, the strike should be 

 much harder, followed by tighten- 



