268 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



tail free. It is not necessary to use any shot, but a small 

 No. 6 about six or seven inches above the hook helps to 

 regulate the speed of the worm in rough, strong waters ; 

 in the low, clear streams of summer the shot may be 

 dispensed with altogether. Now "approach the water" 

 carefully, avoiding observation as much as possible, and 

 having drawn off line about the length of the rod, or a 

 little longer, cast well up into the stream Directly the 

 worm touches the water, the point of the rod should be 

 gently raised ; this allows the bait to sink. Do not further 

 interfere with it, but allow the worm to travel with 

 the stream until it is opposite the spot where the angler 

 is standing, when the same sort of cast may be repeated. 

 Clear water worm fishing is always practised up stream, 

 that is, the angler must fish and wade up the water. 

 Fishing down stream with the worm is bad form, and 

 very seldom attended with any success. The best por- 

 tions of a river are where the streams are broken with 

 stones and boulders, and not too deep ; it is in such 

 places that the trout lie in summer weather watching for 

 food, and the angler can approach them unseen, as the 

 water is generally rough and the stones afford a shelter. 

 The next best portions are the pools, if ruffled by wind, 

 particularly the thinner reaches at the heads of streams. 

 These should be most carefully fished, and from such, should 

 weather and wind be favourable, the angler will largely 

 increase his take ; however, if the pools are dead calm, it 

 is better to devote attention to the streams. When the 

 worm is cast up the water, the stoppage of the line is the 

 first indication of the bait being seized, but this may some- 

 times happen when the worm is fouled by an obstruction ; 

 the angler can generally tell, for if a trout has attacked the 



