124 ON FISHING WITH THE WORM FOR TROUT. 



worm-fishing a little out of place, but when it is 

 considered that the proper management of the tackle 

 depends not a little upon the implement employed, 

 they will be allowed to be quite preliminary to the 

 subject under treatment. Let me presume that the 

 angler is armed, as I have recommended, with a light 

 double-handed rod, and that he has gained the scene 

 of action, trimmed his tackle, and affixed his bait; his 

 eye also is in command of a likely piece of water, which, 

 as generally happens during summer, in large streams 

 like Tweed or Teviot, can only be fished with much 

 success, by the wader. In he steps courageously, 

 but with due caution, below the place specified, length- 

 ening line as he does so in the usual manner, that is, 

 with the assistance of his hand, and by a slight jerking 

 movement of the top-piece of his rod, along the surface. 

 "When he has unwound as much as he can conveniently 

 heave out and recover without injury to the worm, let 

 him venture his cast. This he may do, either over the 

 left or right arm, as best suits his position, and the side 

 of the river he angles from. He ought not however, 

 as in fly-fishing, to perform the full sweep round his 

 shoulders, but to substitute for it that mode of throw- 

 ing the bait which consists of heaving or pitching it for- 

 ward a plan which very little practice will make him 

 proficient in, and one that both saves the worm and 

 causes it, on its fall, to break, without undue disturb- 

 ance, the surface of the water. 



As I have already had occasion to remark, all able 

 worm-fishers invariably cast the line up the stream, 

 taking their stance below where the trout are presumed 

 to lie, and never allowing the bait, as it is carried down 

 by the current, to pass beneath them. This practice of 

 theirs embodies two separate advices, both of which re- 



