Striking. 173 



of the line. He will do much to secure these ends 

 if he remember the rule given in fly-fishing up- 

 stream, and never allow his lure to get below him. 

 Ere it has reached a point opposite to him, and 

 in the absence of any response from the trout, he 

 should take another step up-stream and cast again. 



When using this tackle commonly called " Stew- 

 art's tackle," but employed long before his time 

 it is best to strike the moment you have cause to 

 think the fish has taken the bait. You are gener- 

 ally advised of this important fact by the stoppage 

 of the line. This is the first indication, but not 

 the only one. It is unwise, however, to wait for 

 the further proof of the trout's presence which 

 is afforded by the tremulous motion of the line. 

 Though this is certainly a surer indication of an 

 attack upon the bait than the mere interruption of 

 the line (which may be caused by an obstruction 

 at the bottom), still, the angler who hesitates to 

 strike in the hope of thereby making " assurance 

 doubly sure," will almost to a certainty lose his 

 fish. His eye must detect the bite before his hand 

 does so, for his chances of success with this tackle 

 lie altogether in the keenness of his perception and 

 his readiness for action. In using the single-hook 

 tackle, on the other hand, it is hardly ever safe to 

 strike at once. Indeed it is difficult to say when 

 to strike. The chances of catching the trout being 



