CHAP. XI. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 341 



which with the plumbs upon your line above you can 

 never do, but that your bait must always drag whilst you 

 are sounding (which in this way of angling must be con- 

 tinually), by which means you are like to have more 

 trouble, and peradventure worse success. And both these 

 ways of angling at the bottom are most proper for a dark 

 and muddy water, by reason, that in such a condition of 

 the stream, a man may stand as near as he will, and nei- 

 ther his own shadow nor the roundness of his tackle will 

 hinder his sport. 



The third way of angling by hand with a ground-bait, 

 and by much the best of all other, is, with a line full as 

 long, or a yard and a half longer than your rod ; with no 

 more than one hair next the hook, and for two or three 

 lengths above it ; and no more than one small pellet or 

 shot for your plumb ; your hook, little ; your worms, of 

 the smaller brandlings, very well scoured ; and only one 

 upon your hook at a time, which is thus to be baited : the 

 point of your hook is to be put in at the very tag of his 

 tail, and run up his body quite over all the arming, and 

 still stript on an inch at least upon the hair; the head 

 and remaining part hanging downward. And with this 

 line and hook, thus baited, you are evermore to angle 

 in the streams, always in a clear, rather than in a troubled 

 water, and always up the river, still casting out your 

 worm before you with a light one-handed rod, like an ar- 

 tificial fly, where it will be taken, sometimes at the top, or 

 within a very little of the superficies of the water, and 

 almost always before that light plumb can sink it to the 

 bottom ; both by reason of the stream, and also that you 

 must always keep your worm in motion by drawing still 

 back towards you, as if you were angling with a fly. And 

 believe me, whoever will try it, shall find this the best 

 way of all other to angle with a worm, in a bright water 

 especially. But then his rod must be very light and pliant, 



