PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 499 



embedded. Now cast out a yard or two beyond where 

 your baited spot is situated, and, when the lead has reached 

 the bottom, draw it towards you, so that the hooks lie clear 

 of the lead and line, and straight from the point of the rod. 

 Then hold the rod, with the top joint pointed directly to 

 where your hooks lie, and lower the point, that the line 

 may be straight through the rings (which, of course, should 

 be standing rings), and directly in a line with the thumb 

 and forefinger of the left hand. By adopting these means, 

 one avoids the fish feeling the pull on the top, which must 

 be felt when the rod is at an angle, and if the line is held 

 very delicately between the fingers, the least motion can be 

 detected. The first indication of a nibble, in nine cases out 

 of ten, will be a tremulous movement, that will, I warrant, 

 send a thrill through the angler's frame ; hold the line as 

 you would a gossamer thread. Niggle, niggle, niggle, again 

 it comes ; then a little pull, and at last the line begins to 

 sneak through one's fingers. Now's the time ! Strike 

 smartly, not too hard, and if you find that you're home, 

 give him another little tug, just to send the hooks well into 

 his leathery mouth ; keep a taut line, and humour him 

 nicely for a little, until you find out the calibre of the game 

 you have to kill. Bear this in mind, however, that you 

 have no cowardly foe to conquer. A large carp is a gallant 

 fellow, and will resent any untimely indignity in the shape 

 of early " pully-haulings," by a terrible rush, that may very 

 likely upset all your previous calculations, and free himself 

 at the same moment. Do not, therefore, be in a hurry to 

 get him out always reflect that, so long as your line is 

 tight, and the hooks hold, he is as much your prisoner as 

 though he were on the bank. If possible, get him away 

 from the hole where you hook him, and play and land him 

 lower down, so as to avoid disturbing others that may be 



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