The Compleat ^Angler 



The second way of angling by hand, and with a running line, is 

 with a line something longer than the former, and with tackle made 

 after this same manner. At the utmost extremity of your line, where 

 the hook is always placed in all other ways of angling, you are to have 

 a large pistol or carabine bullet, into which the end of your line is 

 to be fastened with a peg, or pin, even and close with the bullet ; 

 and, about half a foot above that, a branch of line, of two or three 

 handfuls long, or more for a swift stream, with a hook at the end 

 thereof, baited with some of the fore-named worms, and half a foot 

 above that, another armed and baited after the same manner, but with 

 another sort of worm, without any lead at all above : by which means 

 you will always certainly find the true bottom in all depths ; which 

 with the plumbs upon your line above you can never do, but that your 

 bait must always drag whilst you are sounding (which in this way of 

 angling must be continually), by which means you are like to have 

 more trouble, and peradventure worse success. And both these ways 

 of angling at the bottom are most proper for a dark and muddy 

 water, by reason, that in such a condition of the stream, a man may 

 stand as near as he will, and neither his own shadow, nor the 

 roundness of his tackle will hinder his sport. 



The third way of angling by hand with a ground-bait, and by much 

 the best of all other, is, with a line full as long, or a yard and a half 

 longer, than your rod ; with no more than one hair next the hook, 

 and for two or three lengths above it ; and no more than one small 

 pellet or shot for your plumb ; your hook, little ; your worms of the 

 smaller brandlings, very well secured, and only one upon your hook 

 at a time ; which is thus to be baited. The point of your hook is 

 to be put in at the very tag of his tail, and run up his body quite 

 over all the arming, and still stripped on an inch at least upon the 

 hair, the head and remaining part hanging downward ; and with this 

 line and hook thus baited you are evermore to angle in the streams, 

 always in a clear rather than a troubled water, and always up the 

 river, still casting out your worm before you with a light one-handed 

 rod, like an artificial fly ; where it will be taken sometimes at the top, 

 or within a very little of the superficies of the water, and almost 

 always before that light plumb can sink it to the bottom, both by 



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