170 THE BORDER ANGLER. 



Longformacus ; while a little below it a burn of a 

 very different character enters. Blacksmill-burn, which 

 flows round the base of Dirrington Law, and then 

 through some meadow-ground, yields trout of consi- 

 derable size and of excellent quality. Although not 

 worth fishing for more than a couple of miles, in that 

 space trout of nearly a pound in weight may be taken 

 we have even heard of one of three pounds being 

 caught in a part of the burn little more than a foot in 

 width. And it occurs to us here to mention a mode 

 of burn-fishing, where there are trout of a good size, 

 that may be practised with great success in a flood, 

 just when the yellow colour is going off the water. 

 Take a large- sized worm-hook with a pretty long 

 shank, tied to strong gut, and round the length of the 

 shank beat a piece of lead such as can be drawn into 

 the body of a minnow. Have a loop at the end of the 

 strand of gut, and with a darning-needle pass the gut 

 up through the minnow and out at the tail, leaving 

 the hook projecting at one side of the mouth. The 

 lead acts as a sinker, and the angler can work his 

 his bait in below banks and close to the bottom in a 

 way that is impossible with the spinning minnow. 

 Large trout take it readily ; and it is advisable to give 

 them plenty of time before striking, as they often seize 

 the body first, and so don't get the hook into their 

 mouth until they begin to swallow the bait. A large 

 minnow may be used. English anglers practise fishing 

 somewhat similar to this in clear water, with smaller 

 bait and delicate tackle. 



The pretty village of Longformacus stands on the 

 banks of the Dye, about three miles from its junction 



