HOOKING AND PLAYING FISH 81 



will float down past him, and by pulling from 

 below cause him to travel up again. It is seldom, 

 however, that fish leave a pool if hooked in the 

 mouth. A fish foul hooked frequently makes 

 down, and it is impossible to stop him. On 

 the day these notes were written, the writer had 

 an experience with a salmon not easily forgotten. 

 Hooked in the Bridge Pool at Aboyne, he went 

 down stream, and although by running along the 

 bank and giving slack, the pull was from below, 

 he never stopped. As there were trees in the 

 way, the writer and his ghillie had to take to the 

 water for over a quarter of a mile without waders, 

 before this plucky fish was gaffed, when he was 

 found to be hooked in the tail. Of course, there 

 are occasions where a half-killed fish, getting into 

 a strong stream is carried down, or a fish foul 

 hooked as shown will bolt down ; unless you can 

 follow, it seems inevitable that he will be lost, 

 the only chance being to work him in to the side, 

 and give the ghillie (who should station himself 

 below), a chance with the gaff as he passes. 



The position of the rod after hooking a fish, 

 should be almost vertical at the butt, the pres- 

 sure bringing the middle down to an angle of 

 about 45 degrees. It is advisable to be opposite 

 the fish as much as possible, and in a strong 

 stream rather above. Allow no slack line, and 



have as little in the water as possible, as if a fish 



F 



