118 BAIT FISHING. 



of the apertures I had made; the current being just sufficient to 

 carry on my bait, I drawing out the line through the rings as it 

 proceeded onwards ; but it had not gone far before I had a bite and 

 caught my trout too ; then fresh baiting and casting again into the 

 same opening I drifted further down, sometimes letting out the 

 full length of my line, and when I had fished as far as the limits 

 of my line would allow, I commenced pioneering again and cut 

 away another space ; and in this manner I fished all through these 

 otherwise inaccessible parts of the stream, and so fortunate was I 

 that my basket, a very large one, was not only filled, but the pockets 

 of my fishing jacket also ; (which fortunately for my future com- 

 fort was a washing one ;) and yet but for trying in this apparently 

 unapproachable part of the stream, 1 should in all probability have 

 brought home an empty basket. 



Many fine trout also have I succeeded in taking with a worm in 

 places that no one else would have dreamt of trying in, dropping 

 through small interstices in bushes that have completely over- 

 grown the stream, and could I but get the bait to reach the water, 

 it was pretty certain to be seized upon ; yet casting in was not 

 my only difficulty, for even when the bait was in the water some 

 twig or other would be constantly laying an embargo on some 

 part of my line, which often checking the fish, would cause him to 

 abandon the bait ; at other times, the fish darting quickly off, ren- 

 dered it necessary I should strike immediately, when if I missed the 

 bite it was seldom my hook did not get foul of something or other ; 

 but yet in spite of all these drawbacks, T have enjoyed many a 

 pleasant day's angling in these troublesome places, and rarely failed 

 in being able to show a handsome dish of fish at the conclusion 

 of it. 



In very hot weather, when compelled to abandon fly fishing on 

 account of the brightness of the day, I have frequently met with 

 great sport with a worm, by wading in the stream and drifting a 

 long line down over the shallows a-head of me, and this at times 

 would have been utterly useless to have tried from the banks. J 

 have however found from long experience in these matters, that 

 a small stream is much better adapted for this kind of fishing than 

 a large river, though sometimes I have succeeded even there with a 

 worm when every other plan had failed ; but this I have rarely 

 done in the deeper parts of the stream, nor have I ever caught 

 many trout with a worm* in a sluggish river, though I have had 



