THE COMPLETE ANGLER. FART T, 



Your ground thus baited, and tackling fitted : leave 

 your bag, with the rest of your tackling and ground- 

 bait, near the sporting- place all night; and in the morn- 

 ing, about three or four of the clock, visit the water-side 

 but not too near, for they have a cunning watchman, 

 and are watchful themselves too. 



Then, gently, take one of your three rods, and bait 

 your hook ; casting it over your ground-bait, and, 

 gently and secretly, draw it to you till the lead rests 

 about the middle of the ground-bait. 



Then take a second rod, and cast in about a yard 

 above and, your third a yard below ^the first rod. 

 And stay the rods in the ground : but go yourself so far 

 from the water-side, that you perceive nothing but the 

 top of the floats, which you must watch most diligent- 

 ly. Then when you have a bite, you shall perceive 

 the top of your float to sink suddenly into the water: 

 yet, nevertheless, be not too hasty to run to your rods, 

 until you see that the line goes clear away ; then creep 

 to the water-side, and give as much line as possibly you 

 can : If it be a good Carp, or Bream, they will go to 

 the farther side of the river, then, strike gently ; and 

 hold your rod at a bent, a little while ; but if you, 

 both, pull together you are sure to lose your game, for 

 either your line, or hook, or hold will break : And 

 after you have overcome them, they will make noble 

 sport, and are very shy to be landed. The Carp is far 

 stronger and more mettlesome than the Bream. 



Much more is to be observed, in this kind of fish and 

 fishing: but it is far fitter for experience and discourse 

 than paper*. Only: thus much, isne- 

 nJto*ZZ?* cessary for you to know, and to be mind- 

 ful and careful of, that if the Pike or 

 Pearchdo breed in that river, they will be sure to bite 

 first, and must first be taken. And, for the most part, 

 they are very large ; and will repair to your ground- 

 bait, not that they will eat of it, but will feed and sport 

 themselves among the young fry that gather about an<J 

 hover over the bait. 



The way to discern the Pike and to take him, if you 

 mistrust your Bream hook ; for I have taken a Pike 3 



