260 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



pull again. Before commencing to take in, bear in mind 

 that the fish you propose to catch is exceedingly tender 

 in the mouth, more so even than a grayling. There 

 must be no jerking with the oars, no rough pulling at the 

 line ; in short, as honest Izaak said of the frog, " You 

 must handle him as if you loved him." Place the land- 

 ing net, with the net hanging over the stern of the boat, 

 so that you may pick it up in an instant. Having seen 

 that everything is ready, slowly lift the rod back into the 

 boat, so that the top of the rod points towards the bow 

 of the boat. Take hold of the main line with the hand 

 nearest to it and give a stroke with the other. Take in 

 the main line to the top shackle and place this on the 

 nail. Give two strokes and then pull in the dropper, 

 coiling the line neatly upon the stern sheet. Place the 

 bait on the side next the gunwale. Give two strokes. 

 Haul in the main line to the second shackle, which place 

 on nail. Proceed thus, laying the line coil upon coil, 

 until you reach the dropper, upon which is the fish. 

 Never let the fish have a dead pull upon the nail. Take 

 the dropper in one hand while you place the shackle 

 upon the nail with the other. Never let go of the 

 dropper. Keep the boat going with the other hand. 

 Two things must be avoided at all hazards one is 

 letting the line slack, i.e. allowing the fish to rush 

 forward faster than you are hauling in ; the other is 

 allowing the fish to get under the boat ; either of these 

 is generally fatal. Having pulled the dropper in until 

 you reach the gut, give a stroke forward, rise to your feet, 

 step to the back of the boat, catch up your net, and with 

 one clear stroke net your fish. Shake out the fish into 

 the back of the boat, and let out as before. 



The most expert angler will lose many fish; sometimes 



they will not hold. I remember once having nine runs 



before I got a single fish, while the next eight 



F i r n > f" runs accounte d f r eight fish. On an average 



runVto vou should get three fish out of every five 



fish runs. A score char is an exceptionally good 



day's fishing, while six or eight fish per day are 



a fair average take. The largest number taken by one 



boat (two men) is seventy-five, but that was many years 



ago. 



In all kinds of angling hurry is the enemy of success ; 



