128 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



vents excessive strain during its jumps. When a 

 jump is made, the rod is pointed directly toward the 

 fish, and line given or taken with the left hand, as 

 the strain may warrant. This method of fishing will 

 tire any fish much quicker than playing it with rod 

 and reel alone, and doubtless will save a greater num- 

 ber. It causes a steady strain, and is the only method 

 that will prevent too much pull at any single moment. 

 In reality, the hand takes the place of the reel to a 

 great extent. Certainly a fish can be handled in a 

 much more delicate manner, the various jerks and 

 pulls indicating, through the sense of touch, just 

 what is to be done. In case a fish pulls too hard, or 

 undertakes to make a run, then the line is released 

 by the hand, and all necessary playing done with the 

 reel. The line can be quickly grasped again in the 

 event of farther jumping. 



No more than two flies on a 6-foot leader should 

 be used, and if the fish are biting freely it is safer 

 to use but one. If two ouananiche are hooked at 

 once, both are rarely saved, as either a fly or leader, 

 if not the rod itself, will be broken by the vigorous 

 pulling in different directions. Patience is a good 

 virtue to practice with all fish, but especially with 

 the ouananiche. Never try to hurry them in any 

 way, but play them as long as necessary, and lead 

 them to net only when they show exhaustion. 



