352 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



is got the boat should be pulled up a yard so that the 

 fish may get another chance of taking the fly : this is 

 easier said than done, as it is difficult to keep a boat in 

 the same place in a stream. A sharp look-out should be 

 kept for some bush, tree, or stone that may be on the 

 bank, and which may serve as a guide to keep the boat 

 in the exact spot required. When a fish is hooked, 

 never be in too great a hurry to get to the shore. As 

 a rule the fish will follow the boat. The angler will find 

 that the best way to get the fish out of the stream is to 

 hold his rod steady and not to wind in the reel. Should 

 a fish make a run, the boat should be stopped until it 

 settles down, then the gillie should pull towards the 

 shore, selecting a spot where the water is deepest as 

 the best place to land a fish. If possible, try to get the 

 fish up into the fished water, so that it will not disturb 

 the unfished water. When the shore is reached, do 

 not bump against it. If you do so, there is a danger 

 of your upsetting the angler. When sufficient line has 

 been taken in and the fish is under command, the seat 

 should be taken away and the angler allowed to land. 

 He should be told to keep well away from the bank, as 

 he will thereby run less risk of losing the fish. The 

 fish can be either worked towards the stern of the boat 

 and gaffed then, or worked towards the land and gaffed 

 from the shore. The gaff, by the bye, should be kept 

 as sharp as a needle. 



An expertwill usually take the first chance of gaffing 

 the fish, as it comes within reach many times before it 



