180 TROUT FISHING 



every little hole and eddy which would afford a 

 convenient place for the trout to find and secure 

 to himself food. Having determined on this 

 particular spot, and the line being just so long 

 that the worm can be held in the left hand con- 

 veniently, the rod should be held horizontally, 

 and made to take a short curve in a downward 

 direction, from right to left, till the right hand 

 has advanced as far as the left side ; then with a 

 sudden movement, the rod kept still horizontal, 

 the hand should take an upward curve and be 

 brought back again smartly to the right side, 

 and by inclining the top of the rod towards the 

 spot where you desire your worm to fall, you will 

 accurately pitch it with gentleness and precision 

 into the place you determined on, and of course 

 situated directly or obliquely above you. As 

 soon as it is in the water, you must take care not 

 to let your collar bag, but by a gentle traction on 

 the worm, maintain an even tension on the collar ; 

 the degree of force required depends on the 

 rapidity and depth of stream. In all cases the 

 worm should be made to traverse the water in 

 the same direction, at the same depth, and with 

 the same degree of rapidity that a worm would 

 observe if unattached and left free to the natural 

 forces of the water ; this is perhaps the most im- 

 portant point in worm-fishing. A little reflection 

 will guide one to a correct practice. If after the 

 worm has entered the water, you allow your 

 collar to be slack, clearly the worm cannot assume 

 a natural movement ; the collar itself resists the 



