CLEAR WATER WORM-FISHING 79 



strain or resistance which would scarcely suggest 

 a worm carried down by the current or was 

 pulled at, it would almost certainly eject the bait 

 on the moment. Should the bite occur at some 

 little distance, in addition to the procedure 

 recommended, a little line pulled off the reel can 

 be eased out to obviate any tension between rod 

 and fish. But the gut will frequently stop without 

 a trout being the cause : the hooks often hitch in 

 stones, weeds, etc. Such stoppages will soon be 

 understood by the absence of any lifelike feeling 

 or movement of the line. At the same time, I 

 have now and then known a trout to take without 

 betraying itself at all. In case of doubt, the best 

 thing to do is to let the line remain quiescent and 

 slack for the time mentioned, and then raise the 

 rod and tighten gently. 



In worm-fishing, as with fly, trout are often 

 addicted to the provoking habit of ' taking short,' 

 as it is termed. This means that while indisposed 

 to feed they are yet inclined to play with the 

 bait, and not allow it to pass untouched. Some- 

 times, without any gut stoppage or previous 

 notice, the rod will suddenly double up, and the 

 fish be gone the next moment. Or a savage grab 

 may be felt, or a trout will dart upstream with 

 the worm (termed ' a runner '), and will promptly 



