ON EAPID STREAMS. 183 



are now swimming it down the stream in a natural 

 manner further, that you have a bite your line 

 is stopped, the collar quivers and shakes, it moves 

 obliquely towards the spot your worm first pitched 

 in What are you to do ? Whenever in swim- 

 ming your worm the collar stops, drop the top of 

 your rod quickly, but only through a short space 5 

 your collar will bag and curve, and if a stone 

 should have stopped the worm, most probably it 

 will rise and be washed over and past it. If a 

 fish stopped it, you have removed all tension and 

 given freedom to the worm to be moved about, 

 which, unless the fish holds it firmly, it will 

 assuredly be; but if he were simply playing 

 with it, from the increased movement given it 

 by your dropping the top of your rod, it will 

 be quickly removed from him, and he, fearful of 

 losing it, more quickly dashes at it and swallows 

 it ; if, on the contrary, he swallowed it, or took it in 

 his mouth when the collar first stopped, by giving 

 slackness to the line, you allow the trout to walk 

 off with his prey, which in any case he is certain 

 to do as soon as he has made sure of it ; now 

 then is your time, the instant you see your collar 

 beginning to move in one direct course, into him 

 sharp give a sharp wrist movement, just enough 

 to jerk the hook into his mouth, and then play 

 him out. When trout are taking well, you find 

 your collar quietly stop, then immediately move 

 away there is no mistake in such a case drop 

 for an instant your top, and then strike quickly. 

 On the other hand, when they are not taking the 



