The Compleat ^Angler 



bag and malt is near cold, take it down to the water-side about eight 

 or nine of the clock in the evening, and not before ; cast in two parts 

 of your ground-bait, squeezed hard between both your hands ; it will 

 sink presently to the bottom, and be sure it may rest in the very place 

 where you mean to angle; if the stream run hard or move a little, 

 cast your malt in handfuls a little the higher, upwards the stream. 

 You may, between your hands, close the malt so fast in handfuls, 

 that the water will hardly part it with the fall. 



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 morning 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 diligently. 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 you possibly 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 over- 

 come 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 better for experience and discourse than paper. Only, thus much 

 is necessary for you to know, and to be mindful and careful of, that if 

 the pike or perch do 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 ; 



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