96 



The Gentle Art of Angling. 



ing up the slack as quickly as 

 possible. A salmon needs careful 

 playing, the first principle of which 

 is to keep an even pressure on the 

 fish. The reel does most of the 

 work, and should be left free to 

 yield to all the movements of the 

 captive. In this way the strain is 

 relieved. Similarly, all slack line 

 must be winched in, and the re- 

 quisite pressure maintained. Too 

 tight a line courts a break ; too 

 slack, the ejection of th.e hook 

 from its hold ; keeping the top of 



obeisance ! If not, you may part 

 company with fish and gut and, 

 possibly, a sound rod. After re- 

 laxing the strain in this way, the 

 slack must be recovered by hand 

 if necessary, and the rod raised 

 again to the former position. Such 

 incidents are tests. If the fish is 

 lightly hooked, there is a danger 

 of the slack serving his purpose, 

 and enabling him to rid himself of 

 the fly. If the line becomes taut 

 again, it is presumptive evidence 

 of firm hooking, and stimulates 



THE MOY SALMON RIVER, BALLINA. 

 The Scarift Pool. 



the rod over the fish, wherever he 

 goes, is a good rule, to which there 

 is no exception. Side strains are 

 dangerous, and many fish gain 

 their liberty that way. At the 

 end of a run, a salmon generally 

 throws himself out of the water. 

 This is a critical moment, as the 

 sudden jerk may break the tackle. 

 Such lordly springs are worthy of 

 deference; bow to them by rapidly 

 lowering the top of the rod. It 

 will be coupling discretion with 



the hope of landing the quarry. 

 After the lordly spring, the fish 

 takes it " aisy " for a time. The 

 most should be made out of this 

 momentary suspension of hostili- 

 ties, and the salmon winched in 

 close to the rod. Firm hooking 

 having been proved, it is advisable 

 to lean on him, which is technic- 

 ally described as " giving the 

 butt." His object is to rest after 

 the recent activity, possibly in 

 preparation for another run. Ap- 



