272 THE YOUNG ANGLER. 



SALT WATEK ANGLING. 



Many kinds of fish may be caught at the mouths of some of our 

 rivers, when the tide is running in from the sea, such as plaice, 

 whiting, small codfish, turbot, haddock, and others, which will readily 

 seize a bait, and may be angled for from piers and projecting rocks, 

 and even mackerel may be taken from similar places, during the 

 time they are in season. For this kind of angling, a good strongrod, 

 stout, well-leaded line, large cork float, and good-sized hook, are re- 

 quisite. When fishing at the mouths of rivers with gentles, well-scoured 

 red worms, or shrimps, as baits, you may also take eels, flat-fish, and 

 smelts ; when in a boat, a short distance from land, two or three 

 large red worms, a small raw crab, or a mussel, or a little bit of 

 whiting, will prove very serviceable baits. A piece of scarlet cloth 

 will tempt mackerel, and to ensure success, it is necessary to let 

 your bait hang about eighteen inches below the surface of the water, 

 or even lower, if you can allow it. 



NATURAL FLY-FISHING. 



Natural fly-fishing, usually termed dibbing or dapping, consists in 

 fishing with the living flies, grasshoppers, &c., which are found on 

 the banks of the rivers or lakes where you are fishing; it is practised 

 with a long rod, running tackle, and fine line. When learning this 

 system of angling, begin by fishing close under the banks, gradually 

 increasing your distance until you can throw your live-bait across the 

 stream, screening yourself behind a tree, a bush, or a cluster of weeds, 

 otherwise you will not have the satisfaction of lifting a single fish out 

 of the water. In rivers where immense quantities of weeds grow in 

 the summer, so as almost to check the current, you must fish where 

 the stream runs most rapidly, taking care that in throwing your line 

 into those parts you do not entangle it amongsj the weeds. Draw 

 out only as much line as will let the fly just touch the surface, and if 

 the wind is at your back, it will be of material service to you in 

 carrying the fly lightly over the water. In such places the water is 

 generally still, and your bait must if possible be dropped with no 

 more noise than the living fly would make if it fell into the water. 

 Keep the top of your rod a little elevated, and frequently raise and 

 depress it and move it to and fro very gently in order that the fly by 

 its shifting about may deceive the fish and tempt them to make a 

 bite. The instant your bait is taken, strike smartly, and if the fish 

 is not so large as to overstrain and snap your tackle, haul it out im- 

 mediately, as you may scare away many while trying to secure one. 

 There are very many baits which may be used with success in 

 natural fly-fishing, of which, however, we shall content ourselves 

 with enumerating some of the most usual and useful only. 



The red copper-coloured beetle is an extremely good bait if the 

 outer hard wings are clipped, and the insect hung with its feet 

 downwards. 



Wasps, hornets, and humble bees, are esteemed good baits for 

 dace, eels, roach, bream, chub, and flounders ; they should be dried 



