230 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



fishing; but if it chance to be a dry season and open, it is one of 

 the best months. March, too, is very seasonable to the troller, 

 excepting the time of spawning, which usually begins about the 

 middle, unless 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 try the fisherman's patience, even if 

 he is wind and weatherproof; but April will make him amends for 

 his former sufferings. This month he will find most propitious to 

 his pastime, because the weeds which have couched all winter have 

 not yet erected their heads to annoy the bait, or frustrate the hopes 

 of an impatient fisherman. The river is now clear of fog and filth; 

 and the fish having lately cast their spawn, are now more hungry 

 and ready for their prey ; and there is now little fear of their for- 

 saking the bait, as they did in March. 



" The beginning of May is likewise seasonable, especially if it 

 hits with the proverb, cold and windy. Towards the latter end of 

 it the weeds spring up, and are very offensive to the hook ; then 

 begins the trailer's vacation, which continues till the latter end of 

 August or the beginning of September. 



" In the autumnal season, October is the principal month, the 

 weather being then temperate, and the weeds, which were strong 

 and high before, dying and falling to the bottom. The rivers are 

 generally low, which is a great advantage, because the fish are more 

 easily found in their harbours; they leave the shallows and the 

 scours, and lodge themselves in pits and the deepest places. A 

 pike is now very firm and fat, having had the benefit of the summer's 

 food; and if the weather continues dry, and not extraordinarily cole 

 you may take in part of November, which will add much to yoi 

 sport, because the weeds will be more wasted and rotten ; but if 

 flood comes in October, or the beginning of November, you ma> 

 lay aside your tackling for that season ; for great rivers (like gn 

 vessels), being long in filling, and slowly mounting to their fi 

 height, are again long in falling and settling ; so that the water wil 

 be thick and out of order unless frost or fair weather comes 



