AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



and closely allied groups, which live in cases composed 

 of little sticks, stones, etc., cemented together by a 

 gummy secretion from the insect itself. They are to be 

 found inhabiting shallow ditches, or irrigation canals 

 communicating with rivers, and are most easily collected 

 for bait by means of a small boy. This month, how- 

 ever, they are so plentiful that any quantity may be 

 gathered with but little trouble. As far as I am aware, 

 Mrs. Sowerbutts, of roach pole fame, is the only Metro- 

 politan tackle dealer from whom this bait may be 

 obtained. If no other means are available, then the 

 angler should collect for himself. 

 Choose a gravelly shallow and 

 notice, scattered hither and 

 thither, little black or green 

 pieces of stick. If you watch 

 carefully they are seen to move. 

 Each contains a caddis a 

 small, fat-bodied creature with 

 a reddish-brown head and short 

 legs, its long, plump body being 

 coloured yellowish white. One 

 of the large ones, or two or 

 three of the small, should be 

 put on a No. 2 crystal hook, 

 with a shot pinched on the top of the shank, so 

 that the greatest portion is on the convex side of 

 the bend. (Fig. 27.) As old Izaak puts it: "These 

 worms being kept three or four days in a woollen 

 bag, with sand at the bottom of it, and the bag 

 wet once a day, will, in three or four days, turn to be 

 yellow, and then be a choice bait," and so on. Mr. 

 Coxon has told us how to use this bait on float tackle, 

 and it will be my endeavour to show an even more 

 excellent and exciting method. A long or short rod 

 should be used, according to water, but a 10ft. rod, very 

 light, but not whippy in its action, will be found the 

 most generally useful ; running line (which should be of 

 No. 2 undressed silk) should be used on a Nottingham 

 reel, and the gut bottom should be of single drawn gut. 



Fig. 29. Sink and draw tackle 



A. Natural Size 



B. Magnified. 



