200 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



See, the line stops again ; lift it gently, 'tis but a stick or a 

 piece of weed. Now it stops once more, and by the tremulous 

 motion of the line it is a fish pull him out ; " and so on." 

 The great object in this kind of fishing is to let the worm roll 

 along naturally, and to steer the line clear of all obstacles, so 

 that no check may occur while working the worm through 

 and round every likely hole, stone, or hanging bank. You 

 never need try even the likeliest looking place more than 

 twice, for usually the bait will be taken even at the first swim, 

 if it is taken at all. Of course the angler must make himself 

 as invisible as he can ; and when an open or clear shallow bit 

 occurs, he must cast up-stream and fish it down towards 

 himself if he wants to catch fish in it. When the angler has a 

 bite, he must drop the point of the rod for a second or two, 

 and then strike ; and when he strikes, if the fish do not prove 

 too heavy, he must lift him out smartly with the point of the 

 rod and drop him upon the bank. In this manner of fishing in 

 some of the little becks in Cornwall when a boy I have pulled 

 out five and six dozen of bright little trout in a day's fishing, 

 not one of which would perhaps reach half a pound. The 

 angler can, of course, if he likes, use Mr. Stewart's tackle, 

 when he can strike at the slightest touch without waiting, but 

 as there are three hooks, although he will perhaps catch more 

 fish, he will much more often experience the annoyance of 

 being hung up in the thousand and one obstructions that 

 abound in such becks. Added to this, he does not want to 

 skin the stream, but to have a pleasant fishing ramble and to 

 leave some fish for another day. 



In larger brooks or in rivers, worm-fishing becomes alto- 

 gether a different affair. It is more often adopted when the 

 rain has swelled and thickened the streams than at any other 

 times. Many of the best worm-fishers, however, follow it 

 with great success when the water is low and clear. To succeed 

 well, however, at such times, it is necessary to fish with very 

 fine tackle, and to use the best precautions not to be seen by 

 the fish. When the water is thick this is needless. In electing 

 to fish worm in thick water, always choose the day when the 

 water is first rising and thickening if possible, as that is the 

 time when all the fish in the river will be abroad and on the 

 watch for food. If you put off going out till the next day you 

 may find them gorged with the food the flood has brought 

 down, and on the next day, if the flood holds, you will be sure 

 to, and your chance is even worse still, and you must give 



