TO 'SCAPE HANGING. 169- 



flies off the sedges or grass as they try to escape. You 

 cannot then fish too close to the bank. 



In fishing a stream when the fish are rising under the 

 opposite bank, if the angler can make his fly touch the 

 bank, or even rest upon it, so that it will drop lightly, or 

 rather be swept off into the water, it will be found a very 

 killing method : but this requires to be done with great 

 caution, lest the fly take hold of anything. Short grass, 

 earthy banks, or rocks, are the most preferable substances 

 on which to practise this feat. Should the angler, when 

 throwing close to bushes, hang his fly up to a branch or 

 spray, let him not use any violence in trying to get it off 

 again ; a very gentle pull will often cause the fly to come 

 off, and even to unwind itself from any twig it may have 

 lapped round and to drop into the water safely (when 

 haply a rise and a good fish may reward the angler's 

 gentleness), whereas a sharp tug would probably have fixed 

 the fly in- the obstruction inextricably, and a breakage have 

 ensued. Try a steady pull, but not a hard one ; if this 

 fails, a short sharp stroke will sometimes save the tackle, 

 but always try gentleness first, for 6 persuasion is better 

 than force.' Some trees the angler can venture, and with 

 comparative safety, to throw closer to than others, the 

 smooth hanging shape of the leaves and brittleness of the 

 twigs being lees dangerous ; but beware of oak or haw- 

 thorn ; a fixture in either is all but a certain smash. He 

 may venture to throw close to flags, almost with impunity, 

 for if the hook take hold they will generally split from 

 bottom to top ; some rushes are also tolerably safe, but a 

 flowering rush or reed hath knots in it through which no 

 hook will go. When a breakage is necessary, do not strain 

 the rod ; but wind up all the line you possibly can, and 

 then take an almost straight pull on it. 



The fisherman should look behind him from time to 

 time as he works along the banks of a stream ; should he 



