CLEAR WATER WORM-FISHING 65 



use," and he produced a bag of small blueheads 

 and greyish worms. " Them braniblings isn't a 

 patch on these," he added. " But," I objected, 

 " I've killed heaps of trout with them in clear 

 water." " So you might," he replied, " off and 

 on, and trout will take them in low water whin 

 they're hungry, but these here will make them 

 take in spite of theirselves at any time." As I 

 knew this bailiff, William Carter by name, to be 

 facile princeps with the fly as he had proved with 

 the worm, his advice went home. When trout 

 are between moods, especially in low summer 

 water, they are, in my experience, apt to only 

 mince with brandlings, so that only a few fish, 

 hungrier than their fellows, are likely to fall 

 victims, and these will generally be the smaller 

 ones. 



I have been prolix on this point because the 

 brandling is so commonly cracked up, and I am 

 anxious that the brook-fisherman, at least, shall 

 provide himself with baits more likely to ensure 

 success. Best of all come the smaller blueheads, 

 chiefly found in old damp road-sidings, but also 

 to be dug up in fields and gardens, though not in 

 any quantity. The head is bluish-black, and the 

 rest somewhat tawny, though occasionally bright 

 pink. Next, in killing properties, come what I 



