10 HOW TO LAND A FISH. 



fishing, however, there is no such angle, and the rod is 

 always over the float, so that the slightest jerk of the wrist 

 suffices to fix the hook in the fish. If the float only dips 

 slighty, strike ; and at any suspicious behaviour on the 

 part of the float, still strike. Different fish have very 

 different ways of biting, and even the same fish seldom 

 bite two days together in the same manner. A wee bleak 

 or gudgeon will often bob the float down almost out of 

 sight, so that a novice thinks he has a most important 

 bite, while a two-pound roach will often barely move the 

 float at all; sometimes the float will be thrown up or 

 lifted, sometimes will sink almost gradually, as if the hook 

 had touched the bottom ; and when this is the style of 

 biting, it mostly proceeds from good fish well on the feed. 

 I like to see it, as it nearly always heralds good sport. 

 But all these peculiarities the novice must learn from long 

 experience, for no book can teach him. The great thing 

 to aim at is never to use more force in striking than is 

 absolutely necessary to fix the hook, or damage or needless 

 wear to tackle and hooks will result. Having hooked a 

 fish, if possible coax him out of the swim that he may 

 not disturb the others, and play him at your leisure in 

 the nearest vacant space. Be not over-hasty to land your 

 fish, or you may lose him ; but on the other hand waste 

 no time over him. Experience, again, alone will teach 

 ' what strain your tackle will bear. 



In landing a fish you may lift him in by the rod, 

 weigh him in by the line, or handle him in by the gills or 

 tail, or use a landing-net to him, or gaff him. The first 

 method you only adopt with very small fish, which will 

 not perhaps strain the rod. The second you employ with 

 fish that are doubtful in this respect. Having played 

 your fish until it is nearly conquered, take hold of the 

 line, draw the fish gently up to the bank or boat, care- 

 fully judge the length to see all clear in lifting him, so that 



