132 SCIENCE OF FISHING. 



raise the rod in such a way that the fish has to pull against 

 all of its spring, but this should only be done when you are 

 using a strong rod, or you may break the tip. 



When using very light tackle in open water a long line 

 and a large reel must be used, for, under the strain of a light 

 rod a large fish may make a long run, or a deep sound be- 

 fore the drag grows tiresome and he decides to go back. 

 But no matter what kind of tackle you should give line 

 grudgingly and take in line on every available occasion. You 

 have more chance when the fish is near you and you know 

 that he is in clear water, and more line with which to check 

 a run. If the fish is a big one you may lose line and re- 

 cover it again many times before you tire your catch out, and 

 you should never try to use a landing net or gaff hook until 

 your fish is tired out and gives up the fight, even then you 

 must be careful. In rapid streams you should always lead 

 the fish into open, clear water, where the current is not 

 strong. 



With an automatic reel, if adjusted to about the right 

 tension for the fish sought, or rather to what the rod will 

 stand, all that is needed to keep the fish from getting a slack 

 line is to keep the tip of the rod up and the third or fourth 

 finger pressed on the lever of the reel, and the fish can only 

 take line against the tension of the reel spring and the 

 action of the rod. When he lets up the reel automatically 

 draws in the slack line, maintaining the same tension until the 

 fish is tired out. When using an automatic reel on a fly rod, 

 if desired, the line may be drawn in and paid out by the 

 left hand, and the reel only used to take up the recovered 

 line. Nearly all fly fishers retrieve the line by hand when a 

 common click reel is used. 



Some kinds of fish fight entirely beneath the surface 

 others break water frequently and sometimes leap a foot or 

 more out of the water. The black bass is one of the latter 

 kind. The rule governing the handling of the rod when a 



