124 ANGLING FOB GAME FISH. 



undressed), or off a Malloch reel, wliich, as one peculiarity of 

 this reel is to kink the line, necessitates the use of small brass 

 swivels. Anyone who has acquired the art of collecting line in 

 his hand (as do Thames trout-fishermen), will probably find that 

 the pleasantest method of casting the reel only being brought 

 into requisition when the fish is being played. "With these few 

 remarks I may safely leave the subject, first acknowledging 

 my indebtedness for some valuable hints obtained from Major 

 Traheme's article on the prawn in the Badminton series. 



The Worm, which is not less odious to fly-fishers than 

 the prawn, was the bait commonly used for salmon by our 

 ancestors. Of worming for salmon I cannot pretend to any 

 extensive experience. The usual method, carried on when 

 the water is still thick, but clearing after a flood, which 

 is also occasionally good for the first few hours of a rise, is 

 to bait a large hook with three or four common garden 

 worms of the largest size (threaded for ^in. in the middle 

 of each of their bodies), and cast it into spots where 

 salmon are known to be plentiful. The worms are cast 

 repeatedly, and are allowed to trip along the bottom, and 

 sooner or later a salmon may seize them. When this 

 event happens, the fish should be given a few seconds to 

 gorge, and if he moves off at once, line should be paid 

 out, so that he feels no check. A weight on the line is, of 

 course, necessary, such as a pistol-bullet or several swan-shot, 

 placed some 2ft. or less from the bait. The weight must 

 depend on the depth of the water and strength of the current, 

 and the bait should be larger in very thick water than in 

 water only slightly coloured. Salmon will also take a worm in 

 clear water ; and Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell advocates the use 

 of Stewart tackle, with two No. 6 or No. 7 Kendal Sneck hooks, 

 placed l^in. apart, baited with one worm. The bait is cast, 

 and allowed to trip along the bottom, and is sunk by means 

 of lead-wire twisted round some very fine gut, the ends of 

 which are tied on to the cast. Then, if the lead catches in 

 the rocks, the fine gut breaks, and the cast remains uninjured. 

 The worm should be put straight on the hooks, which should 

 be of stout wire; and the strike should come immediately 



