HANDLING THE HOOKED FISH. 131 



ing that will a&ow of lifting the fish bodily from the water. 

 The light tackle used for fly or bait casting could not be 

 used this way, and this fishing would not be nearly so en- 

 joyable if we pulled the fish out by main strength the 

 pleasure of such fishing is mainly in endeavoring to tire the 

 fish by the action of the rod and reel, so that it can be safely 

 landed, and in circumventing in a sportsmanlike way the 

 fish's efforts to escape. The lighter the tackle used the more 

 enjoyable this is, and the more sport it affords, but there is 

 always a limit to the lightness of the tackle when safety and 

 practical use are considered. Fishing on lakes and other 

 quiet, clear water, where the fish has plenty of room to run, 

 you can use lighter tackle than in a place where you must 

 hold the fish away from snags, weeds, etc., and here the 

 strong current helps him out. The strike or act of setting 

 the hook, is done with the right hand, but the rod must be 

 changed to the left hand instantly when the fish moves 

 nearer and gives a slack line so that the slack can be reeled 

 up with the right hand and the left hand can spool the line 

 evenly on the reel. 



To put it in a few words, if you never let the fish get 

 an inch of slack line and can hold him away from the snags, 

 you will never lose a fish that is decently hooked. Usually 

 the rod should be held pointing upward at an angle of about 

 forty-five degrees or more and the spring of the rod, if the 

 slack is kept out of the line by means of the reel, will tire 

 the fish in time. When he rushes away you must let him 

 take out line or something will give way, but the drag of the 

 reel or your thumb pressure on the spool must check his 

 rush and bring him to a standstill. When he comes closer 

 you must reel in the line and handle the rod in such a way 

 that he cannot get a pull on the slack or a chance to shake 

 the hook from his month. If he runs towards weeds or 

 snags you must check and stop him by pressure on the spool 

 of the reel. If the snags are close by it may be necessary to 



