Worm-Bait. 181 



worm-fisher loves. If the flood occur during the 

 season of artificial-fly fishing, the angler need not 

 be in such haste to reach the scene of operations, 

 for the successful use of the fly requires that the 

 turbid water shall in large measure have passed 

 off, and the brown colour given place to the black. 



An important factor in the worm-fisher's calcula- 

 tions of success is his supply of well-scoured worms. 

 Though, in a flooded water, trout will frequently 

 take a large and freshly dug worm, being then 

 attracted by its powerful odour rather than by its 

 portly appearance, yet in ordinary circumstances a 

 small reddish worm, when properly prepared, will 

 prove the most alluring. The small blue-headed 

 worm, and what is called the common marsh- 

 worm, I prefer to all others. If kept for a 

 few days in moss, which has been previously 

 washed and left slightly damp, they assume a 

 fine pinkish colour which seems to. possess great 

 charms in the eyes of the trout. For their further 

 cleansing, I usually wash the worms before placing 

 them in the moss; and should they be kept for 

 more than a week, the moss requires to be re- 

 newed from time to time. The brandling, so much 

 lauded by many anglers, I have little esteem 

 for. It is extremely soft, is difficult to bait, and 

 even when baited, is useless after one or two 

 casts. The worms should be of the same kind, 



