64 A JUMPING FISH 



will keep the head of the fish towards you and prevent 

 his tail coming forward and striking against your line ; 

 it will also prevent the fly loosening in his mouth. If 

 ever a delicate wrist action be required, it is at this 

 moment. 



In Plate XI. a taut line will keep his head toward 

 you, the line out of danger, and the hook fast. 



In Plate XII., by slackening the line at once, the 

 fish will get no purchase if his tail does strike the 

 line, while the weight of the line will keep the hook 

 embedded as the fish moves away from you. 



In both cases just now, as you could see, the trout 

 was heading away from me and up-stream, so I 

 promptly lowered my rod and kept my line clear of 

 his tail. The lowering of the point of the rod when 

 the fish is heading as in Plate XI. may be just as 

 dangerous as not lowering the point when the fish is 

 in such a position as Plate XII., and for the following 

 reason : Lowering the rod slackens the line and re- 

 leases the strain on the hook a most risky proceeding, 

 for if the fish happens to be lightly hooked on some 

 bony portion of the mouth, the toothed tongue of the 

 trout, which is constantly endeavouring to shift the 

 fly when in its mouth, will at once get the opportunity 

 it requires, and the fly will be rubbed or torn away 

 from its hold. This latter position, however, is the 

 more common one, and always lowering the rod is 

 better than always keeping it up. The best advice 

 I can give is always to lower the point when there 

 is a probability of the fish striking the line with his 



