162 ADVANTAGES OF TROLLING. 



CHAPTER YII. 



TROLLING. BODS, LINES, TACKLE, AND BAITS, AND 



METHODS OF USING THEM. 



IN England proper, trolling is practised to per- 

 fection. It is somewhat despised, because it is 

 not well and generally understood, in Ireland, 

 Scotland, and Wales. In those countries fly-fish- 

 ing is every thing, and there it is certainly better 

 and more generally understood than in England. 

 The English are rapidly becoming good fly- 

 fishers. Let me hope that the Irish, Scotch, and 

 Welch are as rapidly growing good trollers and 

 spinners. If they follow my instructions they 

 have nothing to fear, and will find that trolling oc- 

 casionally is productive of the highest angling plea- 

 sure. When neither fly-fishing nor bottom-fishing 

 can be practised, in consequence of certain for- 

 bidding circumstances of water and season, trolling 

 can be resorted to as a first-rate substitute. The 

 largest-sized river fish are killed by trolling, and 

 1 have no doubt that this mode of angling would 

 prove very successful in the sea. A knowledge 

 of it must be a great resource to the angler 

 who visits foreign climes, and there dwells by large 

 rivers and wide lakes. Numerous letters addressed 

 to me by Englishmen sojourning by the lakes 

 in the North of Italy, as well as on the banks of 



