io The Mahseer. CHAP. n. 



for the re-adjustment of this little matter ; there is a violent tug, and an 

 immediate smash; 



" The waters wild 



Go o'er your child, 



And you are left lamenting." 



You must fish in a state of constant and careful preparedness for this 

 sudden and impetuous rush ; for there is no use in hooking a fish if he 

 is to break you immediately. Even your very reel must be looked to 

 that it runs easily, that it is not fouled and clogged by use, that no 

 treacherous sand has got in from laying down your rod and reel by the 

 river side, for when a heavy fish goes off with racehorse speed, he will 

 take no denial, and woe betide you if you cannot promptly oblige him 

 with the line he wants. If he cannot get it fast enough to please him, 

 he will break it. All this may be in a measure true of the salmon too, 

 but it is pre-eminently so with reference to the Mahseer, and more than 

 ordinary attention should be paid to it accordingly. 



Here let me quote, in passing, from the Asian, in which " Marmot " 

 writes on the 22nd of November, 1881 : " I have fished in nearly every 

 river and lake in Ireland, but never had a tussle equal to my last fish at 

 Tangrot "... " Time, one hour and twenty-five minutes by my watch ; 

 weight of fish, 42 Ibs." 



A single turn of the line round the top of the rod does not always 

 catch the eye at once, and is much more likely to occur while spinning 

 than when fly-fishing. It is well therefore to test from time to time 

 whether or not all is free. This can easily be done by taking a pull at 

 the line close to the winch. If it runs freely through the top, well ; but 

 if it does not, get your bait out of the water as quickly as possible, to 

 avoid accidents. Out with it at all costs without a moment's hesitation. 

 Never think of risking it, for it is not a mere risk but a certainty that 

 if you have the misfortune to get a run in that plight you will also get a 

 smash somewhere, and not improbably of your rod. If you are too lazy 

 to remedy the evil immediately, let me venture to suggest that it would 

 be better that you should retire from business. 



A Pliable Rod. A pliable rod is in my opinion a matter of great 

 moment in Mahseer fishing. The rush is so sudden and so violent that 

 the hand, be it ever so light, cannot answer to it sufficiently quickly, and 

 with a stiff rod the mischief is done in the very first tug. Whereas if 

 you have a pliable rod it yields instantaneously to the tug, it yields 



