100 THE PRACTICAL ANGLER 



fore beginners should use moderately strong gut at 

 first, and as they improve in casting reduce its size. 



A difference of opinion exists as to whether a 

 trout should be struck on rising ; but, in common with 

 the great majority of anglers, we advocate immediate 

 striking. When a trout takes a fly it shuts its mouth, 

 and if the angler strikes then, he is almost sure to 

 bring the hook into contact with its closed jaws. We 

 have frequently watched the motions of trout on 

 taking a fly, and when left to do with it what they 

 chose, they very quickly expelled it from their 

 mouths with considerable force ; and we think that if 

 the angler strikes even when the trout's mouth is 

 open, he will have much better chance than by 

 leaving it to hook itself. A trout on seizing an 

 artificial fly is almost instantaneously aware that it is 

 counterfeit, and never attempts to swallow it, very 

 frequently letting it go before the angler has time 

 to strike ; so that it is of the utmost importance to 

 strike immediately, and this is the reason why a 

 quick eye and a ready hand are considered the most 

 necessary qualifications for a fly-fisher. A trout first 

 takes a fly, and then makes the motion which anglers 

 term a rise, and which consists of their turning to go 

 down ; the angler therefore does not see the least 

 break on the surface until the trout has either seized 

 or missed the fly, so that he has already lost so much 

 time, and should strike immediately. 



Although it is impossible to strike too soon, it 

 is quite possible to strike too hard. Some anglers 

 strike with such force as to pull the trout out of the 



