"The Compleat ^Angler 



other after this manner, my master only excepted, who died many 

 years ago, and was one of the best anglers that ever I knew. 



These are to be angled with, with a short line, not much more 

 than half the length of your rod, if the air be still ; or with a longer 

 very near, or all out, as long as your rod, if you have any wind to 

 carry it from you. And this way of fishing we call daping, dabbing, 

 or dibbing ; wherein you are always to have your line flying before 

 you up or down the river, as the wind serves, and to angle as near 

 as you can to the bank of the same side whereon you stand, though 

 where you see a fish rise near you, you may guide your quick fly 

 over him, whether in the middle, or on the contrary side ; and if 

 you are pretty well out of sight, either by kneeling or the interposi- 

 tion of a bank, or bush, you may almost be sure to raise, and take 

 him too, if it be presently done ; the fish will, otherwise, peradven- 

 ture be removed to some other place, if it be in the still deeps, where 

 he is always in motion, and roving up and down to look for prey, 

 though, in a stream, you may always almost, especially if there be a 

 good stone near, find him in the same place. Your line ought in 

 this case to be three good hairs next the hook, both by reason you 

 are in this kind of angling to expect the biggest fish, and also that 

 wanting length to give him line after he is struck, you must be 

 forced to tug for it ; to which I will also add, that not an inch of 

 your line being to be suffered to touch the water in dibbing, it may 

 be allowed to be the stronger. I should now give you a description 

 of those flies, their shape and colour, and then give you an account 

 of their breeding, and withal show you how to keep and use them ; 

 but shall defer them to their proper place and season. 



VIAT. In earnest sir, you discourse very rationally of this affair, 

 and I am glad to find myself mistaken in you ; for in truth I did 

 not expect so much from you. 



Pise. Nay, sir, I can tell you a great deal more than this, and 

 will conceal nothing from you. But I must now come to the second 

 way of angling at the top, which is with an artificial fly, which also 

 I will show you how to make before I have done, but first shall 

 acquaint you, that with this you are to angle with a line longer by a 

 yard and a half, or sometimes two yards, than your rod ; and with 



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