158 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEB. 



manner. The result of our experience upon this subject 

 is as follows: 



First : It is an exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, 

 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 effec- 

 tual, and in this case the single moment's grace may be 

 granted with safety in still water, as the trout are, gen- 

 erally speaking, more leisurely in their movements. 

 It is essential that the details appended should be 

 thoroughly mastered in order to attain proficiency. Our 

 own private plan, after the delivery of the fly in the ex- 

 tending 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 accu- 

 racy will be attained in efficient striking, even at the 

 longest distances.* 



Second: The action and amount of force required to 

 hook the fish, are an intricate matter to deal with definite- 

 ly, as so much depends upon the bearings of the situa- 

 tion. That small fish require gentle usage, whilst com- 

 paratively large ones necessarily require more impulsive 

 treatment, is an aphorism well known to all ; but that 

 the rodster should be cognizant to a nicety of the weight- 

 sustaining power of the fine tackle, and should also be 

 able to calculate accurately the probable result of a san- 



* When fishing down stream on our mountain trout waters, the fish, 

 nine times in ten, hook themselves ; at least such has been my own ex- 

 perience. 



