183 



to say, a foot or two before them : by this means the? 

 have not time to contemplate the object, and are caught 

 quite by surprize. 



The cool of the morning, and of the afternoon, are the 

 best times to angle for them. In die morning they take 

 the worm, but during the rest of the day the minnow, ot 



Though trouts are extremely voracious, they are, never*- 

 theless, equally cunning, and do not run very blindly 

 into a snare : on the contrary, of all the river fishes, they 

 are, in my opinion, the most knowing. 



Whether it be from the immense quantity of bungling 

 tackle presented to their view, they acquire that habit of 

 discrimination which marks all their actions, when they 

 have time to look about them j or that they are instinc- 

 tively subtle, I cannot take upon me to say ; this much, 

 iiowever, is certain, that those who angle for trouts must 

 jxxssess much skill before they can command success, I 

 consider luck to be out of the question on this occasion j 

 for I am fully convinced, that he who uses the finest 

 tackle, and the best baits, applying them properly, and 

 keeping out of sight, must, in the same waters, com?- 

 pletely distance all competitors who are deficient in any 

 of those requisites. 



A trout-rod should, for trolling, roving, &e. be about 

 14 feet long, very firm, and well mounted in all respects* 

 The reel- line should be strong, but not too thick. The 

 hook, about No. 5 ; but if the fishes run large, No. 4. 

 The bait, well-scoured brandlings, marsh-worms, red* 

 worms, grubs, &c. according as you find the trouts dis- 

 posed to take any one kind in preference, 



