Striking. 105 



the stroke being against him, the slightest twitch or 

 turn of the wrist is generally sufficient to secure 

 him. Alike in fishing up as in fishing down stream, 

 one should strike gently, but more gently when 

 fishing down than when fishing up, because the cur- 

 rent is against him. In pools very gentle striking 

 is needed. If the trout do not seize the fly when it 

 alights, it is necessary to watch carefully the motion 

 of the line as it floats down-stream ; for should it 

 stop for a moment, it is almost a certainty that a 

 fish has interrupted its progress. Now is the time 

 to strike, and in ten times out of a dozen the trout 

 is hooked. The point of the rod is immediately 

 raised, and the line kept tight while the fish is taken 

 gently down -stream, the angler being careful to 

 keep always below it, whether he is wading or on 

 the bank. 



If he be wading when he hooks a small fish, it 

 is unnecessary to bring .it to the side, as it can be 

 much more expeditiously removed in the water. 

 When trout are taking well, and time, therefore, is 

 valuable, it is profitable in the long-run even to 

 lose a small one now and again through some lack 

 of courtesy than to be too nice in playing them 

 down to the channel. When the " rise is on " I 

 seldom spend more than a few seconds over a fish, 

 unless, indeed, from his size he demands more 

 attention. Large trout are always worthy of some 



