THE HAUNTS OF THE TROUT. Ill 



Occasionally the hooked fish, prior to taking his deep 

 dive, takes it into its head to perform some serial evolutions, 

 which are exceedingly trying to the angler's skill, as the 

 line may be easily broken by a stroke of the tail. It is best 

 to keep the line taut whilst the fish is rising, and slacken 

 it considerably as the fish falls, so as to prevent the tail 

 striking the taut line. In landing a fish, let the landing- 

 net be slipped under the fish, so that he may drop into it. 

 Bring him, if possible, to a shelving bank, but if this is not 

 possible, bring the exhausted fish close under the bank, and 

 slip the net under him. Do not frighten him, and let the 

 net be kept of a green colour. If you use the gaff, insert 

 it beneath the gills whilst he is gasping, or strike it beneath 

 one of the pectoral fins. A landing-net or a gaff is indis- 

 pensable in fly-fishing 



CHAPTER XIV. 



FLY-FISHING. 



Trout: their Haunts, Habits, and Tastes Scotch and Irish Fly- 

 FishingMonthly List of Flies General Hints on Grayling 

 and Trout Fishing. 



WHILE the mere mechanical routine of the " gentle craft " 

 is easily acquired by those who have the desire to do so, 

 and who possess the necessary patience ; there is much to be 

 learned ere the tyro become the expert and scientific angler. 

 He must know the haunts of the fish, and tell almost at a 

 glance where the best fish lie, and choose intuitively, as it 

 were, the ni/y*t alluring baits, and those best adapted to the 



