168 THE COMPLETE ANGLEK. [PART I. 



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, 1 

 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, 2 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 usually in the night, and then the great trout feeds 

 very boldly. 



And you must fish for him with a long 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, 3 nay he will 

 sometimes rise at a dead mouse, or a piece of cloth, or any- 

 thing that seems to sw r im across the water, or 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. 



1 Barker says: "Another good method is to cover your hook with a 

 large worm drawn up the shank, and to add several others about the point, 

 leaving parts of them hanging round, and to let the bait lie at the bottom. 

 This does well also in the day-time." 



2 You will hear when they rise, then slack your line down as near as 

 you can guess to the bottom, holding it upright; you will easily perceive a 

 bite by your hand. BROWNE. 



3 That is to say, at the first touch of the fish. The White Palmer is a 

 good night fly, on a large hook ; then as day dawns, substitute a Red, and 

 at full light a Black of the same kind. These, with lob-wormg, will serve 

 all the year for night angling ; which is the surest of all, and kills the largest 

 trout. Your line must not be longer than your rod. BARKER'S DELIGHT. 



