Cad-bait Fisldng. 105 



and ditches, in still water among rushes, water-weeds, 

 straw, &c. and hence called the Straw-worm. The third 

 is found in pits, ponds, and ditches, in March, coming on 

 before the yellow ones, which are not to be fished with 

 till April, and in July go out of season. This last sort 

 may be used in August again. All the three kinds are 

 to be carried in woollen bags, for the air kills them. 

 They may be fished with either as the clap-bait or creeper. 



But to fish the Cad-bait it is better to proceed in this 

 way: Provide a nice casting-line, pretty stout, to the 

 foot of which attach a small swivel, and below this about a 

 yard of fine round gut, to which whip a hook, No. 3 or 4 

 Limerick, hackled with the breast-feather of a mallard, 

 dyed yellow ; this is to be done with yellow silk. 



To bait it, insert the point of the hook into the tail of a 

 large Cad-bait, and draw it, as little bruised as possible, 

 quite up the hook to the hackle, then hang one or two 

 more, through the shoulders, on the head of the hook, if 

 the first one is not of sufficient size ; though one bait will 

 generally be found sufficient and is preferable. 



In fishing the Cad-bait select the quickest streams, fish 

 up the water and pitch it in neatly, near to some hold 

 in which you imagine a fish to be resting. The bait 

 should be kept continually in motion, by a short up and 

 down movement of the rod, resembling, what I would 

 call, bastard-trolling. It is generally fished under water ; 

 and, when it is, the Angler should strike either straight 

 up, or with the stream a little, as soon as he feels a bite. 

 In very clear water, and when not fishing too deep in the 

 water, the Angler can watch his bait, and can strike at 

 his own discretion, when a fish rises to it ; but the sooner 

 the better, and in the way above stated. 



