THE PRAXIS OF SALMON ANGLING. 
is, hooking the fish by the resistance 
of the reel in giving off line. 
Others maintain that — striking 
should be judiciously done at least and 
always when the fish is running away 
from the angler. 
Still others declare that the index 
finger should always be kept on the 
line so as to give a modified strike 
when the salmon takes the fly. 
But all unite in maintaining that 
there should be no strike until the sal- 
mon is plainly felt and known to be 
on the line. 
Manifestly the salmon in rising and 
taking the fly moves toward and in 
the direction of the angler; therefore 
to strike at the sign of the rise and 
the feel of the pluck is_ to risk pulling 
the fly out of the salmon’s jaw. 
It is bad, nay, vicious, to strike or 
even raise the rod sharply at the sign 
of the boil or roll, and unpardonable 
at the open rise or splurge of the sal- 
mon, for you may pull the fly out of 
the sight of the salmon and disappoint 
the fish. 
It is affirmed on authority that it is 
more difficult to raise a disappointed 
salmon than one that has been pricked 
or rugged. 
When the salmon lashes or rolls on 
the surface, hold him as tenderly as 
possible, and without lowering the tip 
over much, with line as near slack 
as expediency will permit; for if the 
line be held firmly taut the salmon 
may hit it with his tail and then—! 
While the salmon sulks it is known 
that the fish occupies a vertical and 
not a horizontal position, and hard 
straining or pulling in a direct line 
is not likely to move him. Change 
your position to get the sidewise pull 
and then try to move him, but first ex- 
haust the pebbles. 
It is not untimely to quote: 
“Tf your gillie can dexterously man- 
age to hit the line where it enters the 
water with a sharp, heavy flint, he will 
certainly spare you further trouble.” 
Some say a common split steel key 
ring put on the line, or a piece of pa- 
207 
per in the fashion of a kite messenger, 
will start the sulkiest brute of a sal- 
mon. 
Do not hastily conclude that the fly 
is fastened to the bottom or a sub- 
merged branch, because you can not 
move or release the line, and you fear 
you will break the cast. A 16 pound 
salmon can hold to the bottom with a 
deathly stillness. 
When you feel the salmon boring 
and jigging, that is, rubbing his jaws 
against the bottom to grind out the fly, 
hold the rod bowed until the vibrant 
shivering thrills up the tense line and 
down the rod into your marrow; but 
be ready to throw the rod forward 
with free reel when the salmon starts 
for the seaward run. 
Success lies in holding the salmon 
within the pool. When the fish starts 
down the stream, hold hard to safety’s 
verge, for in the rapids the expert 
deems it no slight feat to land the fish. 
Giving the butt does not mean 
that the rod is to be held backward 
over the shoulder with the butt thrust 
toward the fish, but with the butt held 
against the groin and pulled strongly 
upward so as to put the strain on the 
middle joint and extending downward 
toward the butt. 
Ease the strain on the rod without 
suffering slack when the fish rushes 
or makes toward you, and hold hard- 
est, to embarb the hook, when the sal- 
mon rushes away from you. 
When angling from the boat, 
neither raise the anchor nor move un- 
til the fish is well hooked; then the 
euide should closely get the canoe 
ashore. 
If fishing from the shore, be sure to 
look around and take careful bear- 
ings of your surroundings as soon as 
you think the salmon has the fly, for a 
stumble is a fatal mishap. 
Many anglers like to have the fish 
gaffed through the gills, 
If your salmon get into the rapids 
when you are fishing from the shore, 
the gaffsman should wade out in the 
stream in readiness to free the line if 
