THE JOLLY ANGLER. 



bridges, &c., if the water be deep and steady, but if rough, 

 such as it is at mill-tails, weirs, &c. I have seldom found 

 much sport, except in warm weather ; the only exception 

 to this that I have noticed is, after much rain has fallen, 

 then you will find them (Jack in particular) near the 

 banks in about two or three feet depth of water. I have 

 taken some large Pike among the sedges in shallower 

 water than that. If the flood is caused by the thawing of 

 snow, it would be labour in vain to attempt to catch fish, 

 as they do not feed at this time. 



In spring, the fish are all in shallower and sharper 

 streams, in the act of spawning ; at this time they do not 

 feed well, at least I have never had much success from 

 the beginning of April till July (Fly Fishing for Trout, 

 &c., and Pond Fishing excepted). August and September 

 are the pleasantest months in the year for Bottom Fishing, 

 when the fish first begin to retire to the deeps. I have no 

 doubt the fish feed on either the young weeds or insects 

 found therein, as they never leave them from their first 

 springing forth in April, till they get rotten and bitter in 

 August, or later. 



You must also pay great attention to the following re- 

 marks. You should have fine tackle ; for example, single 

 hair for Roach, Dace, and all such fish as the strength 

 will admit of; fine gut for the fly, and not less than two 

 yards and a half of it between that and the extremity of 

 the fly-line (unless for Salmon, then some use twisted 

 gut); clean and fresh baits; keep yourself as much out 

 of sight of the fish as possible ; if using a float, have as 

 light a one as the stream will admit of; it causes less re- 

 sistance when a fish bites ; if fishing with gentles or paste, 

 you must strike the moment they bite. Pay attention to 

 these rules, and you will generally meet with such success 

 as will repay you for the trouble of perusing this little 

 work. 



Having taken the liberty of expressing my opinion of 

 Mr. Sailer's knowledge, or want of knowledge, of the art 

 of Fly Fishing, I will now give you a paragraph from 

 " Best," on Bottom Fishing, in speaking of which he 

 says, " The best places for pitching a boat to angle in the 

 Thames, are about 150 yards from York Stairs, the Sa- 

 voy, Somerset House, Dorset Stairs, Blackfriar's Stairs, 



