CLEAR WATER WORM-FISHING 81 



tighten instantly, but without striking ; or it may 

 be a gentle touch, when it is expedient to push the 

 rod towards the fish and at once ease out line 

 before tightening in the usual time. Trout facing 

 upstream, as they always are, should never be 

 struck at when fishing downstream. 



The brook-fisherman must perforce pass by 

 various attractive spots where from the density 

 of foliage, interlacing twigs or other obstruction 

 it would be impossible to get his bait into the 

 water. Still, in many such sanctuaries an aper- 

 ture may be noticed which can be utilised thus. 

 With an exceedingly short line, seize the gut at 

 the shot pellet, bend the rod just sufficiently, take 

 good aim, let go, and shoot the bait in. If in one 

 of these holts there is a current, upon entering the 

 worm shove the rod-top under water, and get 

 out some more line by jerking it against the flow 

 so as to enable the bait to work down. How to 

 get the tackle out, or a trout if hooked, must be 

 left to the resource of the angler. 



Much has been written about bringing a fish 

 downstream to help drown it, as no doubt it does ; 

 still, this is often impracticable. But suppose 

 the trout to have worked below or be hooked in 

 downstream fishing, nothing has such a paralysing 

 effect as towing it up against the current with its 



