DRY FLY FISHING 89 



if this happens when the fish is within reach 

 it is well to take the opportunity of landing it. 

 On the other hand, at the actual moment of 

 getting the net off the strap, the angler may 

 be taken at a disadvantage, and he should not 

 expose himself to this risk till he is pretty sure 

 that the trout is no longer capable of anything 

 very sudden or violent. With a very large 

 fish the thought of losing which is really 

 dreadful I always have a secret fear of getting 

 the net ready too soon, lest the act should be 

 noticed by some unseen influence, and treated as 

 a sign of that pride which deserves a fall. No 

 attempt should be made to net a good fish till 

 it has turned on its side, and ceased to struggle 

 or splash, and till the net is right under it. 

 The best way is to draw the fish over the 

 net, not to push the net under the fish. 

 In practice there is often a combination of 

 both these movements, but the net should be 

 kept as still and unobtrusive as possible, until 

 the final act of lifting, or rather receiving and 

 drawing the body of the fish to land, and this 

 should be steady, even, and certain. I prefer 

 to keep the rod in the right hand, because the 



