38 Fishing for Salmon. 



is, see it so as to be lured by it. Salmon are not so sharp- 

 sighted as bull-trout, which often take the fly in disco- 

 loured water, and refuse at times to do so when it is clear. 

 When you have made your cast, be particular not to draw 

 your fly so as to plough the surface, but let it sink a short 

 distance under water, recovering it upwards towards your- 

 self by an up-and-down movement or swaying of the rod, 

 urging it by gentle impulses, so that it may have a 

 natural appearance, whether taken as an insect or a small 

 fish. Yet, while you keep your fly well sunk, remember 

 that there is a medium to be observed, and therefore do 

 not let it sink too far. Consequently, at all times, hold 

 your rod well up, and by no means, as I said before, 

 have out too much line. Here, unlike trout-fishing, 

 where striking instantly is requisite, do not, on rising 

 a fish, strike till you feel him on the line; "and this 

 must be done by simply raising the rod, which will be 

 found quite sufficient. If you should see the fish 

 coming to take the fly, do not stop it, but keep it mov- 

 ing at the same rate, and do not be in a hurry to strike, 

 as I have just said, though in some cases I would strike 

 directly, as in trout-fishing. Here, as in trouting, 

 change your flies as seldom as possible, and persevere 

 with what you imagined the fish would take until you 

 have given it a fair trial. Exception, however, may be 

 made to this rule where the fish are scarce, the pools 

 and streams holding them not numerous, or where they 

 are much fished over. At all events, if you rise a fish 

 with one fly, by no means be hasty to change it. After 

 hooking a fish, raise the rod well back over the shoulder, 

 and show him the butt ; this should be done steadily and 

 gradually. If he makes a desperate run, quickly let out 

 line, for the size of a fish is hard to judge of. The more he 

 pitches himself out of the water the less likely are you to 

 kill him, but when deeply and well hooked he seldom shows 

 those antics. Never use unnecessary violence, though 



