TEOUT FISHING WITH BAIT. 87 



hole and corner likely to hold a trout, gathering up the 

 line like a weaver working his shuttle with one hand, and 

 working the rod with the other ; it was almost as masterly 

 a performance, when contrasted with the splashings and 

 dashings of the ordinary bungler, as one could well see in 

 all the range of angling. But though the Thames will 

 always be the head school for learning the art of spinning, 

 I doubt if the present generation come up in point of 

 neatness and skill to the old masters The Tags, the 

 Wisdoms, the Purdeys, and Eosewells, now, alas! have 

 passed away. 



The greatest requisite for success in Thames trout 

 fishing is everlasting and unswerving patience, combined 

 with a smartish turn of luck and, unfortunately, the 

 latter will often beat the former out of the field. How 

 often have I seen a Thames trout of which I knew every 

 spot and scale, with whom I had the most intimate 

 acquaintance, and whose society I had cultivated for 

 months with the nicest and most insidious art, go and 

 throw himself away on some coarse jack fisher with a 

 gimp hook and a 6in. gudgeon. Some chance barbeller 

 coming in for a rechauffe of someone else's sport ; or some 

 poaching brat with a foul unsecured worm, a whipcord 

 line, and a float like a peg top, who never saw him before 

 in their lives. No ; I cannot say that I am now at all 

 given to Thames trout fishing. I worked at it hard for 

 years ; few professionals could do the trick more neatly, 

 yet my fortune was filthy. I got worn out upon it. Now 

 I never go out for Thames trout. The game is not worth 

 the candle. Perseverance, and patience, and luck, then, 

 are the best ingredients, but it is also good to have the 

 first go over them in the morning before the boats and 

 punts are on the move, and many a good trout has been 



