230 NOBBS'S ART OF TROLLING. 



may take in part of November, which will add much 

 to your sport, because the weeds will be more wasted 

 ^nd rotten ; but if a flood comes in October, or the 

 beginning of November, you may lay aside your tack* 

 ling for that season ; for great rivers (like great ves- 

 sels,) being long in filling, and slowly mounting to 

 their full height, are again long in falling and settling; 

 so that the water will be thick and out of order, except 

 frost or fair weather comes to clear it. In small 

 brooks and rivulets it is not so ; you may fish there 

 again within a week or less after the flood. If such 

 inconveniences put off your designed sport, you must 

 desist till the following Spring, when the days will be 

 longer, though the weather colder. As to the time of 

 day, the morning and evening is best in Summer ; be. 

 cause towards noon the fish get to the top of the water, 

 and are more mindful of their play than their meat. 

 If the day be clear and calm, a snare is more proper 

 than a bait ; for the least motion you can make with 

 your line will affright a fish that lies high ; and if he is 

 once moved and put to the flight, all the art you can 

 use will not entice him to your bait again : besides it 

 will then be too hot for sport; for heat creates no 

 appetite in any thing, much less in fish : it is the wind 

 and the cooler clouds, when Zephyrus curls the waves 

 with a brisk gale that invites a fish to repast ; those 

 hot and sultry days are fittest for the float, when the 

 fish are for some light diet, and the Angler has the best 

 pastime with flies, bees, &c. At such a time of the 

 year, early or late is the best fishing, if it is in the 

 night. As to the Winter or Spring quarter, one part 

 of the day is as favorable as the other : for then the 

 Sun being not so hot, it neither molests the fisher, nor 

 takes away the fishes stomachs. If the day be dark 

 and cloudy you will find but little difference : if any, 

 noon is the btst time, or about ten or eleven o'clock, 

 you will be then glad of a warm blast, when your 

 lingers can scarcely fetl whether they are fish or flesh. 

 Some are very scrupulous concerning the wind, and 

 will not stir a foot except it stand in what corner they 



