62 DOUBTS AND DIFFICULTIES. 



although I have frequently netted the fish out 

 before being able to do this. A disadvantage 

 is that in winding up the loops of slack one is 

 apt to overwind them, or to find them lying so 

 untidily on the reel that it necessitates a 

 rewinding before beginning to cast again. 



PLAYING AND NETTING. 



Precisely the same doubts and difficulties arise 

 in the matter of playing a trout after the strike 

 has proved successful. Some anglers accuse 

 others of being too rough. Others accuse some 

 of being too easy and nervous of allowing a 

 half-winded fish to cruise about and enlarge the 

 hold of the hook until it allows room for the 

 barb to pull through on the slightest slacking 

 of the line. 



Circumstances of size or behaviour of the fish 

 on that particular river or season circumstances 

 of the size of your fly and strength of your 

 tackle circumstances of weediness of the water, 

 either on the surface or the bottom, or swiftness 

 of the current circumstances of bushes or rocks 

 below you, or of stakes and obstacles on the far 

 side, must all be taken into account. 



There are times and places when it is best 

 to tear your line through the rings, and back 

 into the meadow as fast as you can, and to 

 keep your fish upon the top of the water 

 splashing aimlessly right into the net, rather 

 than allow him to gain his head and take in 

 the desperate situation. 



There are times, particularly with grayling, 



