86 LONDON ANGLER'S BOOK, 



best in the spring ; minnows are the best bait for large 

 Trott. 



No ground bait is necessary, except when angling 

 with a float with gentles; then a handful cast in 

 above your float may entice the fish to feed. When 

 angling with a worm, I recommend a well scoured 

 marsh, or small lob worm, in preference to a brand- 

 ling : put this on a hook, No. 6, with a stout gut 

 bottom, and a single swan shot, about a foot above 

 the hook, to sink your bait ; you then may approach 

 the water ; I should say, that a stoutish fly-rod, rigged 

 with a winch and fly-line, is best calculated for cast- 

 ing a worm. I have before cautioned the Angler not 

 to expose himself to the view of the fish more than 

 he can possibly help ; but in Trout fishing it is indis- 

 pensably necessary that you should be as invisible as 

 possible ; the limpid nature of the water they inhabit 

 renders the least movement perceptible to these lynx- 

 eyed water greyhounds ; therefore approach the water 

 as cautious as possible, cast your bait under stumps, 

 hollow banks in deep eddies, swift deep currents, and 

 on the gravelly sharps. If the water be a little thick, 

 worm angling may do wonders ; but I should never 

 think of angling with a worm, except when the 

 woody nature of the banks rendered casting a fly im- 

 possible ; in fact, though you may sometimes make 

 interest for a day's fishing, the worm is strictly pro- 

 hibited, it not being- considered exactly sportsman- 

 like ; and often has worm-fishing prevented the Angler 

 from obtaining a second day's permission. 



You will soon distinguish a bite ; at the second tug, 



