278 



by simply trembling the hand very delicately, as the el- 

 bow is depressed : if rightly done, he will soon have a 

 jfish on his hook. The arm high raised is very bad and 

 tiresome. 



The proper manner of striking a fish that rises at a fly, 

 is an object of considerable moment,, and must be pro- 

 perly studied ; else the best throws will be of no avail. It 

 is proper to point out to the learner, that the fly being 

 artificial, the fish no sooner mouths it than he feels the 

 deception, and generally ejects it immediately: add to 

 this, that by the time even the quickest hand can be 

 brought to act, when the fish is seen to rise, the latter 

 will have began to descend. 



Hence, the strikh?g must be as quick as thought ; but 

 at the same moment care must be taken to guard against 

 a certain impulse, too prevalent, to strike as the fish is 

 rising. When this is done, the fish is lost ; because he 

 has not time to close his mouth, without which he can- 

 not, except by mere chance, be hooked. 



By this it will be seen, there is a critical moment at 

 which the angler is to strike j and even then, it must be 

 done with great caution, or the line will pay forfeit. 

 There are, in truth, very few, even of tiiose who call 

 themselves good anglers, ih;:t strike with judgment j 

 they are generally too quick, or too slow, and by far too 

 forcible. 



Nothing more is requisite than to turn die hand up a 

 little as it is rising, so as to make not more than five de- 

 grees difference in the angle ; that is to say, the rod 

 must be suddenly brought up about five degrees by a play 

 of the wrist: this will mate an immense difference in 

 the situation of the hook 5 which., it it does not catch in 



the 



