1 66 The Carnatic Carp. CHAP. xi. 



across a big fish. There is a simple way of making any such mishap 

 much less likel> Never throw the full length of your line, but just a 

 foot or so under it, so that it is necessary to get the rod out of the same 

 line with the line, to get the rod point just a foot or two elevated before 

 you can quite straighten, or gather up the slack on, your line. Then 

 any sudden pull must come on the top joint of the rod, which being a 

 pliable fly-rod yields till the line runs. Be careful at the same time to 

 grasp your rod with three fingers of the upper hand underneath the 

 line, and only the middle finger above it, so that when the middle finger 

 is raised the line runs free. You may then strike without much fear. 

 If you strike a trifle too hard the bending rod and running line will 

 save your tackle from the worst force of the first blow, and after that 

 you have time to regulate the incline of your rod to the pull of the 

 fairly-hooked fish. You will find that the middle finger soon becomes 

 very ready at checking or freeing the line at will. When casting it is 

 closed on the line so as to prevent its running out involuntarily, and 

 when working the fly, and expecting a possible rise and strike, it is held 

 free. The middle finger soon learns its duties to such a nicety that, if 

 you so wish, it will even ease off the strike by only half closing on the 

 line and so only partially checking it. You can with advantage adopt 

 the same method of holding a light, single-handed trout rod, and you 

 will find it will help to save your fine drawn-gut collar when a bigger 

 trout than usual is pleased to honour you, will save it at the strike, and 

 then instantly come to the rescue in stopping the line for the playing 

 of him. 



But this principle is only applicable within certain limits. With a 

 salmon rod you can never strike lightly enough for fine drawn gut, that 

 is, if you strike at all quickly, you must use salmon gut ; with a two- 

 handed i4-ft. trout rod you must use coarse or stout gut; with a light 

 one-handed trout rod only can you use the finest drawn gut or even a 

 single hair. To strike quickly and lightly is the finest touch of art in 

 the accomplished trout fisherman, but even he cannot do it with a two- 

 handed i4-ft. rod, much less with a heavy salmon rod. It can only be 

 done lightly enough for the finest tackle with a light rod of from 9 ft. to 

 ii ft. which you can perfectly command with a single turn of the wrist. 

 I use for such fishing a lo-ft. rod. A i4-ft. rod is just too much for it; 

 you need to take both hands to it, and you use your arms more than 

 your wrist, and directly you have to use your arms you are slower in 



