22 ANGLING IMPROVED. 



but slack your line a little, that so he may more se- 

 curely swallow the bait, and hook himself, which he will 

 sometimes do, especially if he be a good one ; the least 

 jerk, however, hooks him, and indeed you can scarce 

 strike too easily. Your tackle must be very fine and 

 slender, and so you will have more sport than if you had 

 strong lines, which frighten the fish, but the slender line 

 is easily broke; with a small jerk. Morning and even- 

 ing are the best times for the ground-line for a Trout, 

 in clear weather and water, but in cloudy weather, or 

 muddy water, you may angle at ground all day. 



2. You may also in the night angle for the Trout 

 with two great garden worms, hanging as equally in 

 length as you can place them on your hook ; cast them 

 from you as you would cast the fly, and draw them to 

 you again upon the top of the water, and not suffer 

 them to sink; therefore you must use no lead this way of 

 angling ; when you hear the fish rise, give some time for 

 him to gorge your bait, as at the ground, then strike 

 gently. If he will not take them at the top, add some 

 lead, and try at the ground, as in the day time ; when 

 you feel him bite, order yourself as in day angling at 

 the ground. Usually the best Trouts bite in the night, 

 and will rise in the still deeps, but not ordinarily in the 

 stream. 



3. You may angle also with a minnow for the 

 Trout, which you must put on your hook thus : first, 

 put your hook through the very point of his lower chap, 

 and draw it quite through ; then put your hook in at 

 his mouth, and bring the point to his tail, then draw 



