Angling in Flooded Waters. 177 



Many anglers prefer to use a single hook when 

 worm-fishing in flooded water. The size varies 

 from No. 8 to No. 10, and the mode of baiting is 

 simple enough. Entering the hook a little below 

 the head, thread the worm on the shank till 

 the point of the hook approaches the tail; and in 

 order to accomplish this more expeditiously, wet 

 the finger and thumb slightly, and take a little 

 sand between them before commencing operations. 

 Though this single and common hook undoubtedly 

 gets many good baskets in a full water, I always 

 prefer the Stewart tackle, made up of No. 2 or 

 No. 3 hooks, according to the size and condition of 

 the stream. Slightly larger worms are used with 

 the larger hooks. With this tackle the worm is 

 kept longer alive, it is allowed to assume a more 

 natural appearance and position, and when fish 

 are biting shy, there is more likelihood of hooking 

 them. Some anglers fish with two sets of Stewart 

 tackle, the second at a distance of from 2 to 2 \ feet 

 above the lead. In a heavy water this arrange- 

 ment is sometimes very effective. 



It is not necessary to fish up when the water is 

 flooded : its turbid condition is quite sufficient to 

 screen the angler from view. Nor must he ex- 

 pect to find fish where he found them when the 

 water was clear. When a river comes down in 

 flood, the trout leave the main current and betake 



M 



