WORM-FISHING FOR TROUT. 65 



former, armed with a short stiff rod and extra 

 coarse tackle, walked down the river or stream, 

 fishing the pools and likely runs in front of him, 

 and hoisting out bodily any unlucky fish which 

 the purblinding condition of its own element was 

 mainly instrumental in transferring to ours. Now 

 all this is changed, and worm-fishing for Trout is a 

 branch of the gentle art requiring much nicety and 

 skill in its successful performance, and rapidly 

 becoming second only to fly-fishing and spinning 

 in the estimation of anglers. 



We have learnt that the real time for the use of 

 the worm is not when rivers are swollen or swell- 

 ing, but when they are low and bright, June and 

 July in Scotland, and July and August in England, 

 bemg the two best months at the time, in short, 

 when fly-fishing is, from the nature of the case, 

 least attractive and most unremunerative. Instead 

 of short rods and coarse tackle, long, light weapons, 

 and the very finest gut, are in requisition, with which 

 the worm-fisher enters the river, and wading as 

 nearly up the middle as he can, fishes before him 

 the swift runs and shallows, and the broad bed of 

 the stream itself ; often going far towards filling 

 his creel without ever setting foot on the bank. 

 Worm-fishing, as above described, is certainly a 

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