58 ANGLING IMPROVED. 



takes best, either flies or ground-baits, and so suit 

 them accordingly. 



13. Fish are frightened with any the least sight or 

 motion, therefore by all means keep out of sight, either 

 by sheltering yourself behind some bush or tree, or by 

 standing so far off the river's side, that you can see 

 nothing but your fly or float; to effect this, a long rod 

 at ground, and a long line with the artificial fly, may be 

 of use to you. And here I meet with two different 

 opinions and practises, some will always cast their fly 

 and bait up the water, and so they say nothing occurs 

 to the fish's sight but the line; others fish down the 

 river, and so suppose, the rod and line being long, the 

 quantity of water takes away, or at least lessens the 

 fish's sight ; but others affirm, that rod and line, and 

 perhaps yourself, are seen also. In this difference of 

 opinions I shall only say, in small brooks you may angle 

 upwards, or else in great rivers you must wade, as I 

 have known some, who thereby got the sciatica, and I 

 would not wish you to purchase pleasure at so dear a 

 rate ; besides, casting up the river you cannot keep your 

 line out of the water, which has been noted for a fault 

 before ; and they that use this way confess, that if in 

 casting your fly, the line fall into the water before it, the 

 fly were better uncast, because it frightens the fish ; 

 then certainly it must do it this way, whether the fly fall 

 first or not, the line must first come to the fish, or fall 

 on him, which undoubtedly will frighten him: my 

 opinion is, therefore, that you angle down the river, for 



