PLAYING A FISH. 185 



not carefully handled, will to a certainty be lost. The 

 proper method of playing a fish in open water that 

 is clear from weeds, sticks, etc., is to give him plenty 

 of line, and play him till he is completely exhausted, 

 cautiously keeping the rod on a regular bend ; but 

 in rapid and turbulent rivers playing a fish is almost 

 certain to end, not only in the loss of the fish, but 

 also of a portion of your tackle. 



There are scarcely any rivers free from portions of 

 trees lying concealed in the deep waters, the small 

 holes being well stocked with branches. In the 

 shallow waters there are plenty of piles placed 

 regularly a few yards apart, which are generally laid 

 to prevent depredations by nets, and are seldom 

 unfurnished with branches of trees, etc. When a fish 

 is surprised by being hooked, his next attempt is to 

 dart upon the most convenient stick or pile, and with 

 the rapidity of thought, he entwines your tackle two 

 or three times round it, then he makes good his 

 escape. If he darts into a bed of weeds he stays 

 there, and the line is hopelessly entwined, and you 

 are left to liberate it as you may. Notwithstanding 

 these obstructions, the experienced fly-fisher seldom 

 loses a single fish in the course of a day or two's 

 fishing, though the gut tackle he uses is as fine as 

 possible. When a fish is hooked in a stream, a 

 moderately heavy bend should be immediately put 

 upon the rod, the rodster keeping opposite his prey 

 whenever the bank admits of it, and where this is 

 impracticable line should be given and taken as 

 occasion requires, and circumstances dictate. When 



