THE COMMON BROWN TROUT. 273 



In the selection of a hook bait, those worms that are small and well 

 fed, likewise being somewhat transparent and of good colour which 

 experience alone will determine are the best. It must never be sup- 

 posed that a large worm entices a large trout in the same way as a large 

 bait is found most suitable for a large pike. Such is not the case. I 

 have repeatedly taken 21b. trout with a worm only just large enough for 

 the hook, but it was always a very lively worm, and well scoured. I do 

 not think trout are very particular what species of worm they take. If 

 there is any preference at all, it is for the cockspur, a small red worm. 



The best receptacle for worms for fishing is shown in the latter portion 

 of this work. It is divided into two compartments one for the worms 

 and the other for the sand. All worms can be got from Walter Wells, 

 Sussex-street, Nottingham, by giving two or three days' notice, and as 

 they are never much more than half a sovereign a thousand, the angler 

 cannot do better than order from him. 



Before passing from the bait in worm-fishing, I may say that a capital 

 lure is found in the freshwater shrimp, as described on page 39 in the 

 chapter on Perch. A small roach hook is necessary. 



All the objections urged against down-stream fishing with the fly apply 

 to worm-fishing. It is doubtful whether a single fish would be taken on 

 a very bright day if fishing down stream, unless a very long line is used. 

 The difficulty in throwing a long line with a stiff rod has already been 

 adverted to. 



In casting the worm a rather different style must be resorted to from 

 that used in fly-throwing. The line must be thrown lightly, so as not to 

 break the worm, and precisely to any given spot. It should, to this end, 

 be allowed to go back to its extremity, and then the plan is to slowly 

 urge it forward, so as to avoid the risk of its popping. If it " pops," of 

 course the chances are the worm requires renewal. Its tail, which hangs 

 loose, is probably broken, and this is a very bad fault in a bait. The 

 vermicular writhings are exceedingly fascinating to trout. 



After the bait has fallen on the water, the point of the rod must be 

 lowered, so as to facilitate the sinking of the bait ; it should then be 

 slowly raised, so as to keep out of the water as much line as possible, 

 but it is necessary that this should not be done too quickly, lest the 

 trundling, rolling passage of the bait be interfered with. It is of great 

 importance to keep the line as much as possible out of the water, lest 

 the stream, acting upon it, accelerate its force unduly. Also the trout, 

 seeing the continuous line, will very often be startled. In all cases it is 

 best to endeavour to let the worm fall first, as with the fly, because, in 

 the case of an eddy, though it may drop precisely in the centre, yet, if 

 there be much line in the water, it is infallibly swept out of it. There 



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