298 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



of the salmon at his fly, and it is well for the beginner to be 

 in all senses ready for this event. The top of the rod should 

 be kept well down and pointed in a direction about 

 twenty degrees on the up-stream side of the lure, the line 

 passing between one or more fingers of the upper hand and 

 the rod. It is not advisable, as in dry fly fishing, to strike 

 in order to hook your fish. Except when the fly is stationary 

 or being drawn down-stream, the salmon should be allowed 

 to fix the barb in its own mouth i.e., to hook himself 

 before a counter-strain is employed. Following the rise, 

 except in the two cases just quoted, the fisherman should 

 merely brace himself for action and keep perfectly still. 

 If a quick stroke is made as the rise is perceived, the fly 

 may be pulled or jerked out of the mouth of the fish, before 

 the hook is in a position to enter the flesh. The salmon 

 will, on closing his jaws, if time be given, shift the fly with 

 the tongue toward the teeth preparatory to lacerating it. 

 If the barb of the hook during this action happens to meet 

 the skin either of the tongue or jaws of the fish, and the line 

 be straight, the salmon will in most cases be hooked. There 

 will always be sufficient pull on the hook itself, owing to the 

 plunge of the fish or the drag of the line, to ensure the barb 

 penetrating directly its point is checked by the skin. The 

 drag and resistance of the rod and line will be sufficient 

 to drive it well home. If, therefore, the rod is kept station- 

 ary the strain on the fly will be quite sufficient to hook the 

 fish, and should the barb never be in a position to enter the flesh 

 the fly will be rejected by the salmon naturally, instead of 

 being jerked out of the mouth by a movement of the rod 

 which would effectually scare the fish, and maybe prevent 

 its taking any other flies presented to it later on. 



So long as an object be moving, the salmon will invariably 

 attack it with a rush ; but should the object be stationary 

 in the water i.e., floating with the current the salmon will 



