THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 267 



travel into the slack water near the bank. The trout are 

 generally near the edges of the water looking out for 

 food. When the line stops, lower the point of the rod for 

 a second or pause for the same time, then lift sharply; if 

 there is a fish on throw it out, unless it is a very large one 

 which would require some play and time. There is very 

 little law given in this heavy water fishing, and the sooner 

 the fish is grassed the better, and the stream being strong 

 and muddy coloured, it is difficult for an angler to use his 

 net with any kind of satisfaction. If the fish has missed, 

 the worm will usually be found up the line, and may be 

 brought down to its place and another trial given ; if 

 broken badly, put a fresh worm on. There is no skill 

 required for this style of angling, nor is it recognized as 

 sport amongst the true lovers of the gentle art. Never- 

 theless, it is greatly practised, and heavy baskets of fish are 

 taken in this manner by the rural angler, causing a scarcity 

 in many a good trout stream. Clear water worm fishing 

 is a horse of another colour, and is quite as scientific as 

 fly fishing, and perhaps even more difficult to master. It is 

 much resorted to in clear streams, in the months of June 

 and July, when the water runs low and the sky is too 

 bright for successful fly fishing. The modus operandi is 

 as follows: The angler is armed with a nice handy rod 

 of from twelve to fourteen feet long, inclining to stiffness ; 

 a reel line, not too fine, and a nicely tapered gut cast 

 about six feet long. The hook should be either a No. 9 

 or 10 round bend or McKenzie hook ; if the angler pre- 

 fers, he can use a compound tackle, such as the Stewart 

 or Pennell. In using the single hook, thread it with a 

 nice lively, clear, tough worm, covering it well and 

 leaving about half to three-quarters of an inch of the 



