1 74 Worm- Fishing. 



in this case limited to one hook, which, moreover, 

 only part of the bait conceals, while a large portion 

 remains innocent of steel, there would seem to be 

 the same uncertainty of knowing when to strike, as 

 of knowing what part of the bait has been seized. 

 If feeding greedily, the trout may bolt the whole of 

 it; if shy, he may simply seize and nibble either 

 end. In the former case, prompt striking will be 

 most deadly ; in the latter, though a quick stroke 

 might prove a lucky one, it were better to give him 

 a second or two to manifest his intentions. But 

 sometimes he carries the worm bodily off to his 

 retreat, and then the line runs rapidly out. The 

 moment this is observed is the moment to strike, 

 and generally you will not fail to astonish him. 

 Whether the angler strike quickly with the Stewart 

 tackle, or less smartly with the single, he must 

 in any case be careful to strike down-stream, and 

 never up. 



In wading up the water, select for bait-fishing 

 all spots where trout are most likely to lie such 

 as the margin of a swift stream, the eddies behind 

 rough stones or rocks, streams in communication 

 with pools, the recesses underneath the banks, and 

 all broken streamy water of moderate depth. As 

 it is of the first importance that the learner should 

 know where to fish as well as how, let him from 

 the beginning carefully observe the nature and 



