The Compleat ^Angler 



both this and the other, in a still day in the streams, in a breeze that 

 curls the water in the still deeps, where (excepting in May and June, 

 that the best trouts will lie in shallow streams to watch for prey, and 

 even then too) you are like to hit the best fish. 



For the length of your rod, you are always to be governed by 

 the breadth of the river you shall chuse to angle at ; and for a 

 trout-river one of five or six yards long is commonly enough ; and 

 longer (though never so neatly and artificially made) it ought not to 

 be, if you intend to fish at ease ; and if otherwise, where lies the 

 sport ? 



Of these, the best that ever I saw are made in Yorkshire, which 

 are all of one piece ; that is to say, of several, six, eight, ten or 

 twelve pieces, so neatly pieced and tied together with fine thread 

 below, and silk above, as to make it taper like a switch, and to ply 

 with a true bent to your hand ; and these are too light, being made 

 of fir-wood for two or three lengths nearest to the hand, and of other 

 wood nearer to the top, that a man might very easily manage the 

 longest of them that ever I saw with one hand ; and these, when you 

 have given over angling for a season, being taken to pieces, and laid 

 up in some dry place, may afterwards be set together again in their 

 former postures, and will be as straight, sound, and good as the 

 first hour they were made ; and being laid in oil and colour, according 

 to your master Walton's direction, will last many years. 



The length of your line, to a man that knows how to handle his 

 rod, and to cast it, is no manner of incumbrance, excepting in woody 

 places, and in landing of a fish, which every one that can afford to 

 angle for pleasure, has somebody to do for him ; and the length of 

 line is a mighty advantage to the fishing at distance ; and to fish 

 fine, and far off, is the first and principal rule for trout-angling. 



Your line in this case should never be less, nor ever exceed two 

 hairs next to the hook ; for one (though some, I know, will pre- 

 tend to more art than their fellows) is indeed too few, the least 

 accident, with the finest hand, being sufficient to break it : but he 

 that cannot kill a trout of twenty inches long with two, in a river 

 clear of wood and weeds, as this and some others of ours are, deserves 

 not the name of an angler. 



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