56 THE TROUT 



CHAPTER III 



WORM FISHING AND SPINNING FOR TROUT 



IN these days, when the attention of fishermen seems 

 to be so firmly fixed on fly fishing as almost totally 

 to exclude most of the other branches of the sport, I 

 feel somewhat nervous when I allude to the use of the 

 worm as a means of catching trout. 



This, however, is but a species of false modesty, 

 and very false at that ; for I know few things 

 pleasanter in the way of fishing than to wander 

 amongst Highland hills, wherever some wee burn 

 may run, cairngorm-coloured, making miniature 

 cascades over the boulders, or gliding quietly over 

 pools which from the intensity of their colour seem 

 trebly deep, equipped with a light, somewhat stiff 

 rod, some Stewart tackle, and a bag of well-scoured 

 brandling worms. 



True, the trout may not run large, in fact they 

 are sure to be small, and the stream may be only 

 of a size which would put fly fishing almost out of 



