NOKIJS'S ART OF i UOLLIM;-. 



Pike at new-year's. tide ; these (I confess) are artists far 

 beyond our profession, if their performances are as 

 large as their promises. 



There are some days (we grant) in the depth of 

 winter, as in December or January, that a man may 

 pick out to stand two or three hours by the river-side, 

 but the weather must be open and temperate ; the great 

 fish will be then soonest enticed with the bait at that 

 time of the year, because they lie deep, and are not 

 so careful of their own preservation. There is another 

 great advantage for the winter Troller, the weeds are 

 then down and rotten, which before was a great hin. 

 derance both for throwing the bait, and in keeping the 

 fish from the sight of it. Though a Pike delights much 

 among the weeds, and usually makes his abode there, 

 yet it is very difficult to take him tlure, except it be 

 with the snap ; for if you give him the liberty of run- 

 ning and playing with your bait, he winds himself so 

 fast about the weeds, that you may be in some danger 

 of losing both your fish and hook, if your line is not 

 very strong : if you take a snap, you will be troubled 

 with them, for they are great enemies to that. 



To begin the year, February is the first, and none 

 of the worst months he can pitch upon for his sport ; 

 after Candlemas, if the season is moderate, and the 

 water in tune, which is very rare, for if it is not a 

 flood, as it is often at that time, yet tiie ditches and 

 brooks are commonly so rank and full, that it is but 

 indi tie rent fishing; but if it chance to be a dry season 

 and open, it is one cf the best months. So is March 

 very seasonable to the Troller, excepting the time of 

 spawning, which usually begins about the middle, un- 

 less the Spring is very forward ; and then they will be 

 sick sooner. The Snap is then the only way. If you 

 fish at Pouch, you may have many runs, but scarcely 

 take one except it be a male fish. These two months 

 will fry the fisnermatfs patience, whether he is wind 

 and weather proof; the next is April, which will make 

 him amends for his former sufferings, and is a month so 

 inviting to sport, that it is both pleasant and profitable j 



