58 ROD & CREEL 



CHAPTER XIV. 

 HINTS ON PLAYING FISH 



THERE is no sight more objectionable than to see a man play- 

 ing a fish in a bungling manner, and this is what a great many 

 men do, even some of those who have had considerable exper- 

 ience. If you look at the photos of anglers plying fish that appear 

 in most advertising pamphlets almost invariably the man is hold- 

 ing his rod high in the air with his right hand and his left hand 

 stuck out at right angles to his body holding the line. If you 

 could see the final result of these photos you would probably see 

 the rod thrust right back over his shoulder in an effort to drag 

 the fish ashore, or else, presuming it is a decent fish and has 

 another run left, you would see something break when the fish 

 has run out the line in hand and strikes the reel. Nobody but a 

 bungler plays a fish in this manner. 



With Single Handed Rods. When you have hooked your fish 

 change your rod to the left hand, taking your grip well up on 

 the handle so that, if it is a big fish, you can rest your wrist if it 

 tires by letting the butt touch your elbow or body. Above all 

 things keep your rod up and let it, and not the line, take the pull. 

 Keep your fingers off the line entirely and play the fish from the 

 reel. If he wants to run and you have clear water, let him go as 

 long as you have enough line. If your check is too weak and 

 there is danger of an over-run, the slightest touch of a finger on 

 the drum will obviate this. 



You may have heard that if a fish jumps you are to drop 

 the point of your rod, but there are frequently exceptions to this 

 rule. It frequently happens, especially with steelheads, that the 

 fish will take a long jump straight at you, or partially towards 

 you, in which case you raise the point of the rod to take up the 

 slack line the fish himself has made. It is when the fish jumps 

 straight up or away that the rod point must be dropped. 



Double Handed Rods. In playing heavy fish 011 double 

 handed rods you use practically the same tactics as with a single 

 handed rod. With a double handed rod, how r ever. the butt is kept 

 low down on your body all the time and the left hand well up to 

 act as a lever. The body is thrown well back to keep your balance, 

 with the left foot forward and the knees slightly bent, the majority 

 of your weight being on the right leg. A good well-balanced 

 position is a necessity, especially when you are w r ading in deep 

 water with any big stones on the bottom. If you are standing 



