OUANANICHB AND SEA-TROUT PISHING 127 



these jumps will average at least five or six, and 

 frequently will number ten or twelve. And such 

 leaps ! Two or three feet out of the water, often 

 toward the fisherman, then a rush deep down — a 

 pause — a succession of jerks that would seem to 

 tear the hook loose — a wild rush of varying dis- 

 tance, and a run back, almost to the angler's feet. 

 A fish weighing 3^ or 4 pounds will make a fight 

 lasting ten or fifteen minutes, often longer, and 

 that means hard work for every moment for the 

 fisherman. 



The method of playing the ouananiche is worthy 

 of description in detail, as it will aid intending fisher- 

 men greatly. Rods from 5|- to 8 ounces give the 

 most satisfaction, 6 or 6^ ounces being the best. 

 Much lighter and even heavier rods are advocated by 

 some anglers, but long experience proves their error. 

 A very light rod can not check a fish, since it does not 

 afford a suQiciently strong spring to tire it. A rod 

 heavier than the weight mentioned does not bend 

 readily enough to act as a spring ; it is too stiff. So 

 far as possible, the ouananiche should be played with 

 the rod bent to a C-shape, the butt toward the fish. 

 While the right hand holds the rod, some six feet of 

 line should be drawn out between the reel and first 

 ring with the left. Holding the rod and line in this 

 way checks the fish from making long runs, and pre- 



