KEEP YOUR POINT UP 55 



too soon, and the fly has fallen but half-way to the spot 

 you wished to reach. Try again. Dry the fly well and 

 let your pause be longer after you have switched the 

 fly back so pause. Now cast. Well done ! A good 

 straight line, and the fly has fallen lightly. Let 

 your left hand fall at once on the reel, and as the line 

 comes back with the stream, reel up for a bit. Don't 

 let your hand leave the reel ; raise your rod a little as 

 the line comes still further back. Look out ! Strike ! 

 Steady ! You have him ; bring him out from the 

 bank and down-stream. Dear ! dear ! By dropping 

 the point of your rod you have allowed him to get 

 into the weeds. Keep a steady strain on the rod ; 

 luckily he is only in the lower end of the weeds, 

 and we shall perhaps get him as he is beginning to 

 struggle ! Steady and firm. There he comes ! He 

 is free again, and exhausted. Reel in with your left 

 hand easy ; let him go a little if he makes a rush, and 

 then reel in again. Keep at him. Keep the point of 

 your rod higher. That's better. The net is all ready ; 

 bring him in slowly and quietly toward the net. There, 

 I have him for you. Quite a beauty. Well done ! 

 Your first fish, and eleven ounces if he is a penny- 

 weight. See, I repeat the former process : the Red 

 Quill does not want a disgorger ; it is in his lip. It is 

 soon out of his mouth ; the trout is out of pain, and we 

 will now weigh him. Thirteen ounces. Quite a good 

 fish. 



Never take your eye off the fly when it is on the 

 water. If there appears no probability of a fish taking 



