PRACTICAL ESSAY. 143 



may be used : Hearder's plano-convex minnows, and the " phan- 

 tom," are the best. 



Worm-fishing, when the water is thick with rain, needs no parti- 

 cular skill, for the fish are usually well on the feed and cannot see 

 the angler ; but in clear water it requires more skill than fly-fishing, 

 and is often more deadly though not so pleasant. You require a 

 long and stiffish rod, a cast of about 6 feet in length, and a medium- 

 sized hook, very fine in the wire, and dressed on the finest drawn 

 gut, with one or two shots a foot above the hook. Bait with a 

 small red worm or brandling, fish up stream, either wading or from 

 the bank, moving cautiously and quietly, taking extreme care not to 

 be seen by the fish, and casting your worm something like a fly, 

 and with a longish line, well in front of you. It should fall lightly in 

 the likely streams and eddies, just above the spot where the fish 

 are likely to be, and then be allowed to run down with the current, 

 you keeping a taut line until it comes close to you, when you cast 

 it again. Strike at any suspicious stoppage, and get your fish out 

 as fast as possible. 



I am aware that some authors do not like the single hook of fine 

 wire ; but it is the best, as it has better penetrating qualities. A 

 hook, fine from the point nearly to the bend, and stouter in the 

 bend and shank, would be better if it could be procured. Look 

 often at your hook, and replace it if it is bent or blunted. 



The Stewart tackle (see cut) is a favourite with many. I took 



strongly to it for a time, but I missed so many fish which dropped 

 off while swinging them out of the water, that I gave it up. Mr. 

 Pennell's improvement is having two hooks instead of three, and 

 those rather larger. 



