240 SALMON AND TROUT. 
PLAYING A SALMON. 
Of all the delights uf an angler’s experience, there is nothing 
to compare with that of ‘rising’ and hooking a salmon. 
The rise of a big salmon to your fly is electrifying in its 
effect. There is a moment of intense uncertainty and suspense 
as he disappears after having risen, and you are awaiting the 
result, . .. He has missed it! Your face is as pale as death, 
and you sit down unable to stand from sheer excitement. 
You have to wait a minute or two before you make another 
cast. All cares and troubles, all thoughts of everything and 
everybody, even of the wife of your bosom, are cast to the 
winds during those glorious moments of uncertainty ; your 
whole soul is bound up for the time being with the silvery 
monster you have roused from his stronghold. Perhaps the 
idea comes across you that your fly is too big, and with trem- 
bling hands you change it for a smaller one. Watch in hand, 
with an impatient longing to be at him again, you wait till the 
allotted time has elapsed. ‘Time is up,’ and you rise to again 
try your luck. You may be an old hand, and no outward sign 
will betray the beating of your heart, as you proceed to cast 
over your fish with the same unerring precision as before, as if 
apparently nothing had happened, and you were only commen- 
cing to fish the pool. Or perhaps the excitement will be too 
much for you, and trembling from head to foot—scarcely able 
to hold your rod—you will make your cast, but Zow you will 
never remember. With eager eyes starting almost out of their 
sockets, you watch the progress of your fly as it comes nearer 
and nearer to where you rose your fish, ‘He should come 
now,’ is your mental ejaculation, and quick almost as the thought 
a swirl or perhaps a scarcely perceptible wave in the water will 
betray the presence of your prey. One more moment of 
intense uncertainty and suspense; you feel a slight pull, then 
your line tightens, your fly of your own making, in which you 
took such pride, has done it; ‘you are in him!’ A thrill of 
