I 



CHAP. V. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



You are to know, there is night as well as day -fishing 

 for a Trout; and that, in the night, the best Trouts come 

 out of their holes. And the manner of taking them, is 

 on the top of the water with a great lob or garden-worm, 

 or rather two, which you are to fish with in a place where 

 the waters run somewhat quietly, for in a stream the bait 

 will not be so well discerned. I say, in a quiet or dead 

 place, near to some swift, there draw your bait over the 

 top of the water, to and fro, and if there be a good Trout 

 in the hole, he will take it, especially if the night be dark, 

 for then he is bold, and lies near the top of the water, 

 watching the motion of any frog, or water-rat, or mouse, 

 that swims betwixt him and the sky ; these he hunts after, 

 if he sees the water but wrinkle or move in one of these 

 dead holes, where these great old Trouts usually lie, near 

 to their holds: for you are to note, that the great old 

 Trout is both subtle and fearful, and lies close all day, 

 and does not usually stir out of his hold, but lies in it 

 as close in the day as the timorous hare does in her form; 

 for the chief feeding of either is seldom in the day, but 

 ^isually in the night, and then the great Trout feeds very 

 boldly. 



And you must fish for him with a strong line, and not 

 a little hook; and let him have time to gorge your hook, 

 for he does not usually forsake it, as he oft will in the day- 

 fishing. And if the night be not dark, then fish so with 

 an artificial fly of a light colour, and at the snap: nay, he 

 will sometimes rise at a dead mouse, or a piece of cloth, 

 or any thing that seems to swim across the water, or to 

 be in motion. This is a choice way, but I have not oft 

 used it, because it is void of the pleasures that such days 

 as these, that we two now enjoy, afford an angler. 



And you are to know, that in Hampshire, which I think 

 exceeds all England for swift, shallow, clear, pleasant 

 brooks, and store of Trouts, they use to catch Trouts in 



