CHAPTER VII 



HOOKING AND PLAYING THE FISH 



HOOKING is an act performed mostly by 

 the fish. We fish with both hand and 

 eye, and as we see the line straighten 

 and feel the resistance, we instinctively tighten 

 and firmly pull the hook home. It is rarely 

 that the fish is seen, but when this does occur, 

 one instinctively tightens on him. In most cases 

 it would seem unnecessary to pull at all, as if 

 the hook is in a soft part of the mouth it is 

 home as soon as the pull is felt. It may be, how- 

 ever, that the point is in a hard part such as 

 the roof of the mouth, and it is safer to give a 

 firm pull. In fishing deep slow pools, one occa- 

 sionally sees the movement of the water caused 

 by the fish coming to the fly ; this often causes 

 inexperienced anglers to strike, and pull the fly 

 away from them. This inclination must be 

 guarded against, and the hand kept down until 

 the line is seen to straighten as the fish turns 

 with the fly, before striking. 



In playing the fly round at the finish of a cast, 

 the rod should never be allowed to point down 



79 



