1 08 A rtificial-Fly Fishing. 



the right hand, and with the left stow the fish in 

 your creel, and you are ready for another cast. 

 All this which looks intricate enough, if not be- 

 wildering, at first sight is really the work of a 

 few seconds ; and in an ordinary rise of trout you 

 will kill three in this way in the time you would 

 take one to the bank. 



With heavier fish considerable tact and care are 

 required; but practice will bring success here as 

 elsewhere. The chief point to attend to is, Don't 

 let the fish get down-stream before you. I have 

 frequently, when angling with the loop-line, secured 

 large trout very slightly hooked, simply by keeping 

 below them till they were exhausted. Such trout 

 generally struggle more or less in any circumstances 

 of capture, and sometimes escape even under the 

 best management ; but the chances of their doing 

 so are certainly minimised when they are taken 

 down-stream. Whereas, if a large trout get below 

 the angler, the chances are ten to one that he will 

 escape, unless very securely hooked and on strong 

 tackle on such tackle, indeed, as few fly-fishers 

 would care to use. Even in fishing down-stream, 

 it is necessary to get below a big fish as soon as 

 possible. 



I admit that, in rivers where salmon and sea- 

 trout are abundant, a reel- line is indispensable, 

 otherwise the angler is in momentary peril of losing 



