TROUT FISHING IN BRIGHT WATER. 277 



when a bank overhangs a supposed trout hole, to 

 cast a worm over the edge of it without approach- 

 ing near. The line should not be shotted, the 

 worm should roll naturally off the bank into the 

 water, when, if a trout be there, your bait will be 

 taken almost to a certainty. Trout are to be 

 taken in bright water and weather, with the 

 worm, when they will not touch either minnow 

 or fly ; and there is certainly more art and sports- 

 manship in fishing with a worm, than some 

 people imagine. When to bright weather are 

 added clear and shallow streams, much artifice 

 must be employed. Your tackle must be very 

 fine, your hooks small, and your worms 'well 

 scoured and lively. A winch will enable you to 

 vary the length of your line as occasion dictates, 

 and though in general the line must be as long 

 as, or longer than, your rod, yet where there are 

 trees and other obstructions, you may, by shorten- 

 ing it, get at the holes, and still contrive to keep 

 out of sight, which you must do whether you kneel, 

 stoop, or stand ; and then, if you can neatly and 

 lightly drop in a lively brandling near the likely 

 holds or haunts in a strong stream, especially near 

 the top of it, let the sun shine ever so bright, be 

 the wind rough or calm, and the water ever so 

 clear, you will kill trout when they are not to 

 be caught with any other bait. 



Thames trout are to be caught best by spinning 



