264 GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



be inefficacious now in the same pool, though we are free to say 

 that there are certain flies which always kill better in certain rivers 

 than other flies of equal merit. If the fish won't rise to one pat- 

 tern, try another — keep trying and be patient. Approach your 

 fish by gradually lengthening line, as the old gallant coquettes 

 with the coy maiden, leading him gently up to his work through 

 his instincts. Instinct teaches the salmon to rush after a trailing 

 fly, just as a kitten does after a moving string. He doesn't wish 

 to eat it. But the fly must be manipulated gingerly and deftly, or 

 the fish will obstinately refuse to notice it, or quietly move away. 

 If the fly is thrown nervously or violently, the salmon will run off 

 affrighted, just as the kitten runs under the table in like circum- 

 stances. As the salmon line is heavy and takes up much water, 

 especial care should be used when lifting for a cast, to start it a 

 little first, and then withdraw it steadily, upwards, aslant, and 

 backwards. Use a one hundred yards of laid silk waterproof with 

 a nine feet gut leader. Some use a fly dressed on a double hook, 

 which is well enough when angling for large scores, as the fish is 

 more surely hooked ; but for sport, and not numbers, a single hook 

 is preferred. It is a choice between green heart and six-split bam- 

 boo for rods. The latter, being ligHter, fatigues the less ; but 

 some maintain that the green heart delivers the line better, farther 

 and straighten 



The salmon is a leaper. Leaping is his favorite expedient to 

 detach the fly from his jaws, so, when he leaps, deferentially lower 

 the tip of your rod and save your fish. In gaffing, coolness and 

 dexterity are required ; never jerk your gaff violently, but lift it 

 sharply upward and inward, endeavoring to fix the point abaft the 

 shoulders. No anathemas will compensate for the loss of a fish 

 by the clumsy handling of the gaff after a persistent battle of an 

 hour's duration. 



As the art of fly-fishing can scarcely be imparted ; and as the 

 conditions of battle and the strategy employed vary greatly with 

 each salmon captured, it is almost useless to attempt to instruct 

 except in a general way. Some information, however, may be 

 gathered in the art of fly-fishing by a perusal of the chapter in 

 another part of this volume which has been set apart for this pur- 

 pose. The great point to acquire is to keep your fish well in hand. 



