A DAY'S DRY FLY FISHING 25 



pulling on the cast bring this overhand knot close to the 

 eye of the fly. I have used as small an end as possible, 

 which I now cut off.* The Red Quill fly must now be oiled 

 as before. We are now ready again. The scissors of 

 the knife are now closed, it and the oil box are placed 

 in my pocket, and I take the rod, lift the spear out of 

 the ground, get my length, and cast again. Now watch ! 



NETTING THE FISH 



There ! He has risen, you see, and now, by a slight 

 upward movement of my hand, I have hooked the trout, 

 and before he has time to realize what is the matter I have 

 drawn him below and away from the dangerous vicinity of 

 the weeds. See ! how he fights to get back to his retreat, 

 but it is no good. Now he is trying to bore down into that 

 dark hole ; there may be danger there, so I keep him well 

 up. I have plenty of water, and by a firm but gentle 

 opposition, I check every rush he makes, keeping my rod 

 well up, and finally bring my prize well below the unfished 

 water. My left hand is winding up the reel, and the ever- 

 shortening line is bringing him nearer and nearer. Note 

 the end of the rod ; it is well up, and the bend is nearly 

 always the same, for the line must never be slack after the 

 fish is hooked, and the necessary strain is achieved by the 

 delicacy of the grip of the hand which holds the rod. By 

 careful play I have at last beaten him, and the line is short 

 enough to make the landing-net available, so my left hand 

 leaves the reel and steals to the net ; it is lifted out of its 

 ring and flicked out to its full length, and then, gently 

 stooping, I bring the rod well back and steer the fish slowly 

 towards the net, which you see I hold diagonally, well 

 under the water, keeping it quite stationary until the trout 



* For further particulars of this and other kinds of knots see Chapters 

 VII. and XVI. 



