1 76 Worm-Fishing. 



where the fish, being but poorly fed, are always on 

 the outlook for something to eat, and so fall an easy 

 prey at almost any time of the year. 



In flooded waters fine gut is still desirable, although 

 certainly not so necessary as in clear water. The 

 line should be weighted to some extent, but only 

 so much as will keep the bait on the bottom, and 

 permit it to move slowly with the current. This 

 is the main point to be attended to in worm-fishing 

 down -stream during floods. The line must be 

 loaded less or more in proportion to the strength 

 of the current ; and the angler has often to increase 

 or diminish the number of sinkers on his line while 

 fishing even a very short reach of water. The 

 sinkers employed are No. 2 and No. 3 split shot. 

 They are placed on the line about 8 or 9 inches 

 from the bait, and if more than one be necessary, 

 they should be set close together, so as to lessen 

 the risk of any interruption to the line through 

 their becoming fixed on obstructions at the bottom. 

 A good way of getting the worm to move more 

 smoothly on the bottom, with less chance of entang- 

 ling among stones, is to fix the leads on a bobber of 

 gut, about 2^ inches long, attached to the line at 

 the first knot above the worm, or about 8 or more 

 inches from the hooks. A knot may be put on the 

 bobber to prevent the leads slipping off. This 

 arrangement is more suitable for Stewart tackle. 



