242 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



ON PLAYING A SALMON 



Having hooked your fish, the next point to consider is the 

 playing of him, and in this important point, during the first 

 half of the battle, the angler will be guided very much by the 

 fish ; in the latter half the positions will probably be reversed. 

 What can the angler do when he hooks a heavy determined 

 fish ? All that he can do is just to let him take his own way, 

 merely persuading him strongly against the folly of his conduct 

 when he evinces a disposition to run into needless danger, 

 endeavouring to keep the hook in him, diplomatically if 

 possible, until he is amenable to reason. To be sure, in taking 

 him down-stream, if an awkward rock lies far out, and rather 

 in the way, by the above gentle persuasion he may point 

 his head so as to drive clear of it. If he goes on the far side, 

 and the rod is not long enough to lift the line over it, the 

 connection between the fish and the angler will probably 

 cease. In taking a fish, or rather being taken by a fish down- 

 stream which is always the best course that can be taken 

 the angler should keep up with the fish if possible. Indeed a 

 salmon should never be allowed to have a yard more of line 

 out than is positively necessary. The fisherman should never 

 spare his legs at the expense of his line. If he does, the fish 

 may, and often does, suddenly turn and dart in the opposite 

 direction, drowning the line, which it is impossible that the 

 angler can get in as quickly as the fish swims, and thus all 

 power over the fish is for a time lost, and the bagged line is 

 liable to take hold of any sunken obstruction that may occur, 

 and, as in " all such cases," obstructions appear to be specially 

 " made and provided," a drowned line is too often a lost fish. 



If a fish shows a determination to go to a fall, or rapid, or 

 other undesirable spot where you cannot follow nor stop him, 

 you must butt him. Some writers describe this by recommend- 

 ing you to throw the end of the butt well forward, presenting 

 it to the fish as it were, and putting the rod well to or over 

 your shoulder. But this is not butting the fish ; it is middle- 

 jointing him, and if you want to strain your middle joint 

 beyond redemption the very best way to do it is to follow this 

 plan. If it becomes necessary to butt a fish, the less circular 

 the position taken by the rod the more the strain falls on the 

 butt. Only try, by lifting a weight, in which way the rod will 

 carry most. Let the angler place the butt of the rod against his 

 stomach, and hold the rod pointing out and away from him. 



