1 20 BOTTOM-FISHING. 



the float being shaken, or snatched under, or moved in 

 some way other than by the water, and then imme- 

 diately strike ; to do which requires more skill than is 

 generally supposed. The rod being held firmly in the 

 right-hand, as soon as the bite is observed, the arm 

 should be pressed against the body, and the strike be 

 made by a sudden, but not violent, jerk of the wrist 

 and hand, at the same time tightening the muscles of 

 the arm above the elbow. The arm should not be 

 jerked upwards, but the wrist be smartly turned round, 

 accompanied by a slight upward movement of the arm 

 from the elbow downwards. If you hook the fish, and 

 he offers no resistance, you may carefully, and almost 

 immediately, lift him into your boat or ashore. A 

 very little practice will teach you how far to yield to 

 the fluttering of the fish, to avoid breaking your line. 

 If you hook a heavier fish, and he rushes away upon 

 feeling the hook, as he is pretty sure to do, immediately 

 give him line, but without letting it be slack. Hold 

 your rod nearly perpendicular, and keep the fish, as 

 much as you can, in a similar position, checking him 

 as he rushes backwards and forwards, and thus gradually 

 exhausting him. It may be observed, too, that whilst 

 the fish struggles, you should try to get him a few yards 

 out of your swim, so as to keep it as much undisturbed 

 as possible ; and when you find that he is becoming 

 pretty quiet, wind up some of your line upon your 

 winch, and gradually bring him to the surface, running 

 him backwards and forwards in the water, if you find 

 his resistance still too much for your tackle, and 

 giving him line again, should he plunge and require it. 

 When you feel that you can do so with safety, bring 

 him up, and pass your landing net under him, that so 



