88 FLY FISHING 



have the fight out then and there and risk 

 being broken at once. He should make up his 

 mind quite clearly about this, and if he thinks 

 he cannot possibly hold the fish by force, he 

 had better slacken the line. The sudden free- 

 dom from the strain sometimes changes the 

 intention or tactics of the trout. 



I suppose that nowhere else, and never before, 

 have so many large fish been caught on such 

 fine tackle and small hooks, as have been caught 

 on the best dry fly rivers in recent years, and 

 the anglers who fish these rivers know very well 

 that directly a trout is hooked no possible 

 advantage must be neglected. The chief point 

 is to keep below the fish and fight always 

 with the stream on your side. After the first 

 few moments, you should be able with skill and 

 care, first to guide and then control any trout 

 up to three pounds' weight, if you work steadily 

 down stream with it. There is no need for 

 hurry, for time is then on the angler's side, 

 but there comes a point at which the landing 

 net should be got ready for possible chances. 

 A moment of apparent exhaustion generally 

 seizes a trout before it is really exhausted, and 



