AN AMERICAN REMEDY FOR SULKING SALMON. 119 



the size of flies, I liave only to add to the foregoing remarks 

 that in the evening a larger fly may be used than during the 

 day. 



Striking. — In swift streams, salmon more often than not 

 hook themselves, and no strike is necessary. In quiet water, 

 they frequently take the fly in a leisurely manner, and may 

 spit it out unless you strike; therefore, strike, and then look 

 out for squalls. The trout-fisher, from force of habit, may 

 find a difficulty in not striking in rapid streams. "When the 

 salmon rises in fast-running water, the angler should make 

 no movement of the rod; but when he feels that the salmon 

 has the fly, he may with advantage put on, momentarily, a 

 little extra pressure, by uplifting the point of the rod, to get 

 the hook well in. 



Playing the Fish. — Large salmon often play the angler. 

 The vagaries of hooked salmon vary so greatly that to lay 

 down any general rules on this subject is difficult. It is little 

 use trying to check a fish of any size in his first brilliant 

 rush (if he makes one). Hold the point of the rod well up, 

 keep your fingers and clothes away from the handle of the 

 reel, and follow the fish as best and as fast as you can. 

 Recover your line at every opportunity, and try and keep 

 below your fish. Do not endeavour, even with the strongest 

 tackle, to pull his head off, or the hook may break away; but 

 if he is making for snags, broken water, or other places where 

 you are certain to lose him, put all the strain on him you can 

 (but do not let point of rod get down); you may turn him, 

 and it is no worse to break the tackle then than later on. If 

 your salmon leap, lower the rod-point, and so slacken line, 

 raising it again immediately he regains the water. Should a 

 fish sulk, get below him, and try and pull his head down stream. 

 If this fails, stone him, stir him up with poles, pass rings of 

 metal or paper, or nooses, down the line on to his nose, and 

 annoy him in any other manner you can think of; and if in 

 doing so the line is accidentally cut, do not be surprised. The 

 Americans have recently brought out an automatic gaff, which 

 is attached to a cord, and can be passed down the line on to 



