50 CATCHING THE WILY SEA-TROUT 



thirtieth day of April and the first day of September 

 following." 



As some anglers cannot understand this injunction, I 

 may state that its object is to prevent the destruction of 

 kelts which may stay in the river and perhaps mend 

 prior to the 30th April, also to avoid killing, after the 

 ist September, salmon ready to spawn : those red cock 

 fish with their elongated beaks, and the hen fish no 

 longer silvery but unpicturesque with their dark backs 

 and leaden hued bellies. 



Having cleared the air regarding the possibilities of 

 worm fishing, we will consider the tackle required for 

 this manner of catching the sea-trout. 



The ordinary fly rod, reel and line may be pressed into 

 service, although I should hesitate to use my fly rod for 

 this purpose, as the probability is a fat eel will take the 

 bait and t\vist its tail round a snag or a stone when it 

 notices the pull from the reel. Far better to work with 

 an inexpensive coarse fishing rod built with plenty of 

 power, so that the spoil, be it eel or sea-trout, can be 

 lifted bodily out of the water. Of course, angling of 

 this character precludes all the niceties of playing and 

 netting the hooked one. There is no need to be finicky 

 about gut and hooks : strength must be the chief quali- 

 fication, as the time for worming is when the water is 

 coloured and thick. A " gut bottom/' as it is described, 

 is good enough. This should be formed of one yard 

 of gut, ix in size, with a hook number 6, 7 or 8. 

 A tin of split shots is also necessary. If, in the water 

 of your choice, you are allowed to use a float, any 

 one of the numerous roach or Sheffield patterns is 

 suitable. 



If you have never dabbled in this form of recreation, 

 you will rightly ask if the crafty sea-trout can be won in 

 so prosaic a manner. I can answer that question with 



