PLAYING A SALMON 317 



it, sometimes taking out a considerable amount of 

 line before it stops. The instant it pulls up the 

 fisherman must get opposite to it, reeling up as 

 speedily as possible. Other rushes may follow, 

 but in each case the same tactics must be adopted 

 of keeping level with the fish. So long as he can 

 manage to do this the angler can feel tolerably 

 safe ; but whether up or down stream, he must 

 endeavour to preserve this position. The more 

 brilliant the play of the fish, the shorter will be 

 the struggle. In all this the rod must be kept 

 as upright as possible ; and needless to say, care 

 must be taken to see that there is no risk of the 

 line fouling. If the reel is not a good one it may 

 overrun with the first rush, and when the line is 

 wound up to get to the fish it is very apt to 

 become tangled in the reel. If this takes place, 

 fish and line must go. Again, the reel may be 

 too stiff and refuse to run as it should ; this latter 

 state of affairs is little better than the former. 

 Hence the necessity for a reel being as perfect as 

 possible. Each succeeding rush serves to exhaust 

 the fish, and so bit by bit it can be brought nearer 

 and nearer, until it is within reach of the gaff ; but 

 I would warn a novice never to make too sure that 

 a fish is done for. Even when lying over on its 

 side, many a fish will make a final effort, and may, 

 if the gaffer is inexperienced, the hold of the hook 

 worn, or the tackle frayed, succeed in getting away. 



