196 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



Of the varieties of angle-worm, that with rings, from five 

 to six inches long, and about the size of a wheat-straw, is the 

 best. Place the lot dug for fishing in cold water a little salt- 

 ed, and leave them in five minutes ; then take them out, and 

 place them on a dry board for ten minutes. To farther scour 

 them, place them in swamp-moss which is damp, but not 

 wringing wet ; let them remain over night, and next morning 

 go a-fishing. 



The grub-worm is best in streams after a shower, because, 

 being white, it shows best in discolored water. But the best 

 bait of all for trout, to my notion, is a live shiner. Large 

 trout will take it in preference to any other bait. As trout 

 do not usually bite freely previous to a shower, it is best to 

 bait-fish in the rain, or just after it has ceased. Fish know 

 by instinct when it is going to rain, and they fast until it be- 

 gins, because they expect the rain to swell the stream and 

 bring down to them all sorts of delicacies ; therefore, as soon 

 as it commences to rain, they take any thing offered which 

 they can swallow. 



It is the angler's duty and pleasure to study all the pecu- 

 liarities of weather, with the habits and haunts of trout, and 

 to practice upon them; for as the bait-fisher does not usu- 

 ally whip all the surface of the water, but selects his places 

 to drop his bait, it is necessary to know on which side of a 

 rock or log it is natural for the trout to lie in wait for bait. 

 The successful bait-angler studies also the condition of the 

 water, and selects his favorite pools, while the fly-fisher looks 

 for a gentle wind that will carry his flies off, and trusts to his 

 skill and good fortune for attracting sport. 



Fly-fishing possesses its peculiar advantages. As a means 

 of exercise, it reaches just the degree to brace the muscles, ex- 

 ercise the temper, enliven the spirits, and produce the alter- 

 nations between hope and despair characterized as sport. It 

 encourages fine address and graceful attitudes, produces ear- 

 nestness and even enthusiasm, and while the practice in minu- 

 tiae is not so close as to pin the mind to earth, every sound of 



