226 WHEN TO STRIKE IN FLOAT-FISHING. 



current, it imparts motion to the bait by its pressure on 

 the line. 



STRIKING: 



When a fish seizes the bait, the fact is instantly 

 announced by the float being drawn beneath the surface, 

 when, if it is retained decidedly down, he is to be im- 

 mediately struck, and either landed at once, if a small 

 one, or otherwise properly played until he succumbs. 

 But in the case of trout, when they are only shyly on 

 the feed, it seldom happens that they at once gorge a 

 worm on the first attack upon it, but will very frequently 

 merely seize it by the extremity two or three times in 

 succession, and as suddenly relinquish their hold, before 

 they do so, as noticed in the chapters on worm-fishing, 

 when they must not be struck until the float is decidedly 

 retained below the surface of the water. 



