T12 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
yards of the finest stained gut; one or two shot, ac- 
cording to the depth and rapidity of the stream, being 
placed on the line some 14 inches above the hooks. 
The object of this is to weight the bait, so as to bring it 
close to or touching the bottom without checking or 
sticking fast; but in broad shallow water no sinkers at 
all will be found necessary. 
As the line used can seldom with advantage exceed 
the rod in length, and must often be shorter, a longish 
rod is most convenient for the purpose. The general 
Rod recommended for Lake fly-fishing in the last chapter, 
and page 51, but with a somewhat shorter top (No. 3), 
will answer the purpose exceedingly well. 
With regard to baits, any well-scoured worms which 
are not much larger nor smaller than that represented 
in the woodcut will do; but for worm-fishing for Trout, 
as for most other species of fresh-water fish, the brand- 
| ling, or dunghill worm, is distinctly the best,—probably 
owing to its peculiar pungent smell and red colour. For 
the purpose of rapid baiting the most convenient manner 
of carrying the worms is in a wide-mouthed bag attached 
to the button-hole. A worm that is disfigured or dead 
should never be kept on the hooks. This is perhaps the 
most important point of all. The name of the worm in- 
dicates where it can best be found. Before use it should, 
if possible, be placed in a damp moss for two or three 
days. 
After being cast up stream as far as the length of rod 
