STRIKING. l8l 



not to strike at all." We can fully endorse this 

 statement ; but to be more explicit, although it may 

 be advisable for the youthful aspirant to avoid 

 needless disaster, it is certainly advisable that he 

 should acquire the right and ready " knack " of 

 hooking his rise in an effective and skilful manner. 

 The result of our experience upon this subject is as 

 follows : 



First : It is an exceedingly difficult, if not impos- 

 sible thing, to successfully hook a fish that has risen 

 at the end of sixteen to eighteen yards of line, in the 

 event of his not hooking himself, as the impetus 

 given to the line through the medium of the rod on 

 the appearance of a rise, reaches the scene of action 

 too late to be of any utility. As a matter of course, 

 when the feeding fish are near at hand, and the line is 

 taut and straight, a small jerk from the wrist will 

 have full chance of being effectual, and in this case 

 the single moment's grace may be granted with safety 

 in still water, as the trout are, generally speaking, 

 more leisurely in their movements. It is essential 

 that the details appended should be thoroughly mas- 

 tered in order to attain proficiency. Our own private 

 plan, after the delivery of the fly in the extending 

 circle of the last rise, is to look out for the gleaming 

 side of the fish as it rises, in order to get which the 

 eye should be centred within the circle, but some 

 little distance nearer the rodster. When this habit 

 is contracted, as it easily is with practice, wonderful 

 accuracy will be attained in efficient striking, even 

 at the longest distances. 



