DOUBTS AND DIFFICULTIES. 63 



when it is politic to treat her as a cat does a 

 mouse, to stroll down stream and coax her after 

 you with so little strain on her lips that the 

 pliant rod only shows a gentle curve; to tire 

 her down until she seems waterlogged and lies 

 over on her side even in sight of the net. 

 Grayling exhibit a far greater horror of the 

 landing net than trout, and more are lost at 

 that moment of tension than during their 

 wrigglings and shakings in the deeper water. 



To hook and play a fish in a spot where you 

 have hooked and played many a predecessor is 

 an advantage to the angler that cannot be over- 

 stated. He knows exactly what the surroundings 

 are, and what is in store for him and his gut 

 twenty yards down stream. No intuition can 

 tell him of a hidden stake; but, if he has once 

 lost a trout under it, he knows where and how 

 to ' hold up ' at the right moment. 



Do not follow any struggling fish with the 

 net. Sink the net and bring him over it before 

 you try to dip him out. 



