THE BRITISH ANGLER S LEXICON. 22') 



are useful for binding up rods for the convenience of 

 carrying. 



Striking? is the action of driving home the barb of the 

 sharp hook into a fish's mouth ere it can be ejected, and to 

 accomplish this object satisfactorily, requires both judgment 

 and skill. Some anglers strike too slow, some too fast, and 

 many not at all, trusting to the fish hooking itself firmly as 

 it sometimes does. Striking is rather an objectionable term 

 to use as far as trout are concerned, as in their case the 

 motion of the wrist upwards or sideways is quite sufficient 

 to get a good hold ; the hooks being so sharp and the 

 trout's mouth not very hard, the weight of the line is very 

 nearly sufficient to accomplish the desired effect. Some 

 trout come what is called " short " at a fly, just touching 

 it, one might say smelling it, and turning off sharp without 

 seeming to take the fly in the mouth at all. With these 

 gentlemen it takes quick work and good eyesight, as the 

 instant the little boil made by the trout is seen, or the flash 

 of the fish, the wrist should be turned, and there is a chance 

 of the hook getting embedded somewhere about the jaw. 

 When a jag (q.v.) is felt, always respond with the striking 

 motion, as sometimes a hook touches a cartilage or bone 

 and does not penetrate, and the strike will cause it to slip 

 off and stick in a softer place. With salmon the strike is 

 different. Some anglers give a quick jerk when they see 

 the boil or feel the fish. The proper way is to give a 

 steady, strong, dead upward pull, with the line running 

 through the fingers, and this only at feeling the touch, which 

 should be very perceptible. In trout fishing, when striking, 

 the line should not be touched by the hand at all, as 

 the check on the reel gives quite sufficient resistance, and 

 if there is a sudden rush of the fish, which may be a strong 



