110 ART OE ANGLING. 



and from this circumstance, is, of course, more likely 

 to deceive a large fish. Prefer dropping the fly just 

 under a bush or edge, or in an eddy, to the open 

 river, because your line is then more obscured from 

 the light, and the largest fish generally monopolize 

 the possession of such v places, in order to find and 

 devour the more flies and insects ; and, also, to be 

 near their places of security. If the spot is quite 

 calm, watch the first good fish that rises, avail 

 yourself immediately of the ripple that has been made 

 by the fish himself, and drop in your fly a little 

 above where he last rose. Never let your line lie 

 too long, as, by so doing, you either expose your 

 tackle to the fish by leaving it stationary, or draw 

 the line in so close, that you lose both the power of 

 striking your fish, if he rises, and that of getting a 

 good sweep for your next throw. The first fall of 

 the fly, in fishing, is like the first sight of a bird in 

 presenting a gun always the best. 



" KILLING YOUR EISH. A small fish is, of 

 course, not even worth the wear and tear of a reel. 

 But if you happen to hook a good one, wind up 

 immediately ; and the mofnent you have got him 

 under command of a short line, hold your rod well 

 on the bend, with just purchase enough to keep 

 him from going under a weed, or rubbing out your 

 hook by boring his nose into the gravel. (Observe 



