The fish turned and the reel screamed as 20 yards of line were stripped from it.
He lifted the rod tip and grabbed the line.
Immediately he was dragged to his feet by a savage pull, the fish was taking control.
It must be a Monster.
The boat shifted and Stanley swung with it, struggling to keep his balance.
The line went slack for a second, .... then the fish turned again, this time running below the boat.
The line tightened, the rod was yanked down and Stanley was thrown off balance .
... and off went the fish on its run, stripping line and pulling Stanley with it.
It leapt out of the water and so shocked was he at its size and power that he almost forgot to lower the rod tip, less the fish break free.
It must be 70lbs thought Stanley.
He started to sweat._

First it ran upstream to Stanley's horror, dragging the boat with it for a few yards. Then it turned again and rushed downstream.
He didn't want this, it was all happening too fast for him.

Behind him a large branch caught in the current moved towards the boat.
the branch hit the boat.
Stanley swung sideways.
The fish jumped and Stanley was pulled over the side of the boat.

He couldn't swim.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The cold water slapped at his whole body and he opened his mouth and breathed in at the shock.
Water rushed into his lungs and he panicked, flailing his arms at the boat.
He managed to grab hold of the boat and coughing and spluttering, pulled himself towards it.
His Heartbeat raced.
His head cleared the surface.
He gasped for air.
Something inside him burst.

The salmon tugged at his outstretched arm. His rod arm was dropped into the water and now the fish and current began to pull at him through the rod.
Stanley managed to lift the rod out of the water and hooking his forearm over the side he tried to pull himself back into the boat, his chest waders were full of water.
His heart raced again

just as he felt he was getting control of it all,
Bang ... his rod and arm shot away from the boat
as the fish turned and ran upstream.
And ran...
and ran ...
and ran, stripping the line down to the backing.
And kept going.
50 yards ...
100 yards ...
150 yards,.
The rod jerked backwards as the fish broke free.

Stanleys heart began to fail him.
He felt his strength drain away.
The river plucked his hold from the boat.
The current carried him downriver, past the hotel, through the Lady pool, past the grey stane Niel Gows tree and down into the depths of the mousetrap.
He slipped in and out of consciousness.