158 PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



line against the rod, submerge the net, and let him 

 float over it. There ! Almost two pounds of fighting 

 fish licked to a frazzle! I hug the rod to my bosom, 

 remove the hook and kill the fish we are at least 

 sure of our dinners. 



There are several points on hooking, playing and 

 landing a fish that are worth explaining. Sometimes, 

 especially in fast water, a fish will hook himself but 

 ordinarily it must be done by the angler. This little 

 trick, called " the strike," is something to which young 

 anglers should give some study. With an ordinary 

 bass rod the best method of striking is tightening the 

 line by a twist of the wrist from the left to the right. 

 With a whippy rod best results will be had by sweeping 

 the rod tip downward smartly. When there is slack 

 in the line or near the end of the retrieve it is best to 

 strike both with the wrist movement and by a short 

 tug on the slack held in the left hand. An expert can 

 execute both movements simultaneously with just the 

 correct amount of force and do it instinctively. Al- 

 ways strike when you see the flash of the fish or when 

 you hear him swirl; don't wait to feel him "bite." 

 If you fail to hook him don't be in a hurry to cast for 

 him again make a cast or two in another direction or 

 change your fly. 



When you hook your fish don't be too anxious to 

 land him. Maintain a good curve in the rod partly 

 from the side to avoid raising the tip too high so you 

 are in a position to take in slack quickly if the fish 

 " rushes " you. Handle him firmly, but not too 



