106 CATCHING THE WILY SEA-TROUT 



certainly does not suck the fly to ascertain if the dressing 

 is palatable. 



When a sea-trout rises and accepts the fly the angler's 

 only sound course is to strike in a split second. That is 

 my considered opinion, based on years of acquaintance 

 with the fish. By striking I do not mean a sudden 

 upheaval of rod and tackle. All that is necessary is a 

 quick turn of the wrist, so as to send the barb properly 

 home. I am assuming, of course, that the rodster is 

 controlling his line correctly, without allowing any slack. 



Naturally, we do not all think alike, and while I have 

 pricked many a fish in my time, I do not plead guilty 

 to having lost one by giving it an opportunity of changing 

 its mind. I firmly believe that if every angler on feeling 

 a pluck tightened the line at once the number of lost fish 

 would be considerably diminished. 



At night there is no question of giving a second's 

 respite to a taking sea-trout. The strike is made instan- 

 taneously and the fish is truly hooked. That a different 

 code should be advocated for day fishing rather bewilders me . 

 I am beginning to wonder whether the better catches which 

 are made at night are due to the promptitude in striking. 



Too much prominence is, I suggest, given to this 

 striking business. The supposable problem can be solved 

 easily by remembering the obvious fact that the barb 

 must penetrate the sea-trout's jaw. A lightning turn 

 of the wrist, whether by day or by night, will accomplish 

 this deed, providing the strike is made immediately that 

 the pluck is felt. 



When using a metal minnow the same urgency is 

 applicable, and the strike must be crisp and unhesitating. 

 Even so, I have known cases where the angler has come 

 off second best owing to the fish being a trifle too swift. 



Having hooked the fish, the next item on the programme 

 is to arrange for its safe conduct to the net. The 



