272 AMERICAN FISHES. 



as far as possible, at a proper distance from the shore that is, so that 

 your flies may fall where the water begins to deepen from the shore. 

 The boat should be allowed to drift with the wind, and the oars used 

 as seldom as possible, and merely to keep it in a proper position and 

 distance from the shore. The flies used in lake-fishing are larger 

 than those for rivers ; and I have frequently observed that the winged 

 flies answer better than palmers. Perhaps the cause of this may be, 

 that many rivers and small Trout streams are bordered with trees, 

 which overhang- them, and from which drop the insects that the 

 palmers imitate ; whereas the shores of the lake are generally rocky, 

 or stony, and mostly denuded of trees, and consequently do not pro- 

 duce this kind of food for their finny inhabitants." 



" BUSH-FISHING, DIBBING, OR DAPING. 



" One great recommendation to bush-fishing is, that it can be prac- 

 tised with success in the months of June, July, and August, when the 

 river is low, and the sunshine bright, and in the middle of the day ; 

 at a time and season when no other circumstance would stir a fish, the 

 largest Trout are taken by this method. The angler must be provided 

 with a fourteen-feet rod, with a stiff top, and strong running tackle ; 

 he will seldom have to use more than a yard of line, the bottom of 

 which should be of strong silkworm gut. I recommend strong tackle, 

 because, in confined situations, overhung with wood, you will not have 

 room to play your fish, but must hold him tight, and depend on the 

 strength of the tackle. 



" The size of your hook must depend on the size of your fly, from 

 No. 7 to 9 for small -flies and grubs, and, for beetles, No. 4 or 5. 

 For bush-fishing, you should be provided with well-scoured brandlings 

 and red worm, cad-baits, clock-baits, earth-grubs, beetles, grasshop- 

 pers, and a horn of flies, or, at least, as many of the above as you 

 can procure. A small green grub, or caterpillar, which may be got 

 in June and July, by shaking, over a sheet or tablecloth, the boughs 

 of an oak-tree, is a most killing bait for this kind of fishing. 



" Great caution is necessary in using your rod and line ; for, if 

 there are few bushes or brambles to conceal you, the water must be 

 approached warily, as the large Trout often lie near the surface, and, 



