The Trout 



But because some thoughtless anglers at 

 the present day have succeeded in landing 

 a leaping and well-hooked fish without ob- 

 serving the rule, they decry it as entirely 

 unnecessary, and declare that it ought to be 

 relegated to the limbo of obsolete and 

 fanciful notions and useless practices. The 

 iconoclast usually attacks his images with- 

 out thought or reason, and often in sheer 

 ignorance. A little reflection might en- 

 lighten him and cause him to stay his hand. 



The rule originated in Great Britain and Origin of the 

 pertained particularly to fly-fishing. The 

 very small hooks on which trout flies were 

 tied offered but a slight hold on the mouth 

 of the fish, and in case that a leaping fish 

 threw its weight on a taut line and raised 

 rod it was almost sure to break away 

 hence the rule to lower the tip and release 

 the tension for a brief moment. As the 

 fish regained the water the tip was raised 

 and the former tension resumed. It must 

 be understood, however, that " lowering the 

 tip " does not mean to touch the water with 

 the tip, but as the rod is usually held at an 



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