160 PRACTICAL BAIT CASTING 



him out before attempting to land him. This is done 

 by making the fish pull against the bend in your rod. 

 Therefore, keep the tip of your rod up while playing a 

 fish so there is always a strain on it. This not only 

 tires the fish but prevents him getting any slack line 

 which would enable him to eject or shake the hook 

 from his mouth. Under no circumstances should the 

 fish be given any slack. The fish should be reeled 

 in whenever he will permit it and he should be given 

 line grudgingly. That is, when the strain on your 

 tackle becomes dangerous, allow the fish to run a way, 

 but always keep your thumb on the spooled line with 

 enough pressure to keep a pronounced bend in the 

 rod. 



If the water is very weedy or there are obstructions 

 like logs, pilings, etc., tackle heavy enough to stand 

 "hammer and tongs" fishing should be used and the 

 fish given no opportunity to foul the line. If the 

 water is fairly open the fish can be given his head 

 a little, but remember, the longer the line the better 

 chance the fish has of getting away. 



Many kinds of advice are offered to the novice as 

 to what measures to follow when a fish leaps. Gen- 

 erally speaking, the rule is to raise the rod a trifle when 

 he leaps on a long line and to lower it when he falls 

 back into the water to prevent him falling on a taut line 

 and thus tearing the hook from his mouth. If the fish 

 gains any slack in this process it should be taken up 

 again as soon as he strikes the water. When he leaps 

 on a short line the novice usually does ne*iuj af tfa 



