170 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



apply according to most authorities to a considerable 

 extent to worm-fishing also. For example, Mr. Stoddart 

 lays it down that worm-fishing " can be practised with* 

 success only when the river is clean and small," and yet 

 in Ireland I have known seven clean Salmon taken 

 before breakfast out of " The Leap" on the river Bush, 

 in April, when the water was all but in actual flood and 

 hopelessly thick for the fly. 



The mode of fishing as commonly practised is 

 extremely simple : a large single hook, say No. 14 or 

 15, is whipped on to two or three yards of Salmon-gut. 

 A supply of lob-worms having been obtained, and, if 

 feasible, previously scoured, the hook is passed through 

 the middle inch or two of two or three of them, according 

 to their size and the size and state of the water, the last 

 ^vorm being so put on that no part of the hook or barb 

 is left visible. Sufificient large split shot should then be 

 fixed to the line about if feet above the bait, to take it 

 Avell to the bottom, but yet they should not be so heavy 

 as to prevent the stream carrying the bait freely along 

 with it over the stones. 



The bait is then worked very much like the worm 

 bait for Trout, except that the angler, having selected a 

 pool or run in which he knows that there are plenty of 

 Salmon, generally remains at the same place, shifting 

 his ground a few paces at a time higher or lower. The 

 usual symptom of a bite is a stoppage of the bait, fol- 

 lowed by a very gentle twitching. Sometimes, however, 



