17 



brown and drab, as well as the brown and the 

 black ant flies. Natural flies, grubs, &c., such as 

 you can procure in the fields, on trees, bushes, 

 docks, &c. are all excellent baits for trout; but as 

 they will not bear to be thrown out at the end of 

 your line, you should put them on your hook very 

 neatly; having first formed artificial wings for such 

 as have none, by lapping a bittern's, or a black or 

 red cock's hackle, round the butt of your hook. 



In fishing for trout, use a No. 6 hook ; and bait 

 the ground the night before you mean to angle, 

 with a handful or two of lob-worms. 



Where there are many minnows or chubs, you 

 need not expect to find good sport; for the trout 

 destroys the minnows, and when the chub take pos- 

 session of the place, they drive the trout away. 



It will be useless to make more than three or 

 four throws in a place ; for if the trout does not take 

 the bait then, he will not take it at all. 



Fish strong and fine, and take as much precaution 

 as possible to keep out of sight. In muddy water 

 you may be more bold, fish with coarser tackle, 

 and stand nearer. A worm is better than a fly; but 

 in clear water a brandling is the best of all baits. 



If you angle with a float or leger-bait, lay it as 

 close to the bottom as you can without dragging. 



When you use a fly, keep it always playing upon 

 the water, drawing it up and down the stream as the 

 wind will permit. When your natural flies are dead 

 on the hook, an excellent method is to cut off their 

 wings, and put on a shot to sink to mid-water. 



After a shower of rain, trout will greedily rise at 

 gnats. 



In the evening of a hot day, dip with a grass- 

 hopper on a shot line. 



