HOW TO FISH FOR THE TROUT 



Suppose it be a big Lob-worm, put your hook into him 

 somewhat above the middle, and out again a little below the 

 middle : having so done, draw your worm above the arming of 

 your hook ; but note, that at the entering of your hook it must 

 not be at the head-end of the worm, but at the tail-end of him, 

 that the point of your hook may come out toward the head-end, 

 and having drawn him above the arming of your hook, then 

 put the point of your hook again into the very head of the 

 worm, till it come near to the place where the point of the hook 

 first came out : and then draw back that part of the worm that 

 was above the shank or arming of your hook, and so fish with 

 it. And if you mean to fish with two worms, then put the second 

 on before you turn back the hook's head of the first worm ; you 

 cannot lose above two or three worms before you attain to 

 what I direct you ; and having attained it, you will find it very 

 useful, and thank me for it ; for you will run on the ground 

 without 'tangling. 



Now for the Minnow or Penk ; he is not easily found and 

 caught till March, or in April, for then he appears first in the 

 river, nature having taught him to shelter and hide himself in 

 the Winter in ditches that be near to the river, and there both 

 to hide and keep himself warm in the mud or in the weeds, 

 which rot not so soon as in a running river, in which place if 

 he were in Winter, the distempered floods that are usually in 

 that season, would suffer him to take no rest, but carry him 

 headlong to mills and wears to his confusion. And of these 

 Minnows, first you are to know, that the biggest size is not 

 the best ; and next, that the middle size and the whitest are 

 the best : and then you are to know, that your Minnow must 

 be so put on your hook, that it must turn round when 'tis 

 drawn against the stream, and that it may turn nimbly, you 

 must put it on a big-sized hook as I shall now direct you, which 

 is thus. Put your hook in at his mouth and out at his gill, then 

 having drawn your hook two or three inches beyond or through 

 his gill, put it again into his mouth, and the point and beard 

 out at his tail, and then tie the hook and his tail about very 

 neatly with a white thread, which will make it the apter to turn 

 quick in the water : that done, pull back that part of your line 

 which was slack when you did put your hook into the Minnow 



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