HANDLING THE HOOKED FISH. 133 



fish breaks water is more easily given than followed. It is 

 to merely lower quickly the tip of the rod when the fish leaps 

 if the line is. long, so that he will not fall on a taut line, but 

 the line must be recovered instantly after he strikes the 

 water. On a short line the tip of the rod should be raised a 

 little as the fish leaps and lowered as he falls. This requires 

 such quick action of brain and muscles that few amateurs 

 accomplish it and sometimes it is better to simply let the 

 natural spring of the bent rod recover the slack. If the fish 

 is deep you can feel the slack as he rises to the surface and 

 should reel in the line rapidly, also prepare for a leap from 

 the water. When he goes down, lower the rod. 



When fishing from a boat, if it is anchored, don't forget 

 the rope, and when the fish goes through under the boat 

 swing the rod to the other side and the line around the end 

 of the boat, the same end under which the fish has gone with 

 your line. 



If you can keep this up long enough you are sure to 

 tire out the fish sooner or later. As a rule, the larger the 

 fish the longer it will take to tire him this applying to fish 

 of the same species, for some species fight harder and longer 

 than others. 



When the fish grows quiet and shows his side, he is tired 

 and you can reel him in but must be careful in landing him. 

 If you have no net or gaff, and the fish is not too large, you 

 can get hold of the line with your hand, but make no quick 

 moves, and slipping the hand down to within six inches 

 of the fish, lift him into the boat or onto the bank by a 

 steady, quick lift, swinging him sideways as you lift him. If 

 you are using an artificial bait you should have the line 

 doubled back at the end about six or eight inches, so that it 

 will be stronger. If the fish is very large and you have 

 neither net nor gaff you are likely to lose him, and you should 

 never fish with light tackle unless you have a landing net 

 or a gaff hook with you; both if you are fishing from a boat 



