174 STATES OF WEATHER AND WATER 



freshet is descending a river, shortly after it begins to 

 rise, and before the waters become too much swollen. 

 The trout will then be found to take it with the greatest 

 avidity, especially if the water is a little muddy, as it 

 is then that multitudes of worms, slugs, caterpillars, 

 caddies, and such-like creatures, are washed down by 

 the rising waters, and for which the fish will be intently 

 on the watch. This is the harvest-time of the worm- 

 fisher, who may also use a second hook, attached to the 

 line a yard above the extremity, as a dropper, baited 

 with a slug or caterpillar, with advantage. And if he 

 plies his vocation at this time in the shallow eddies 

 and scours, the mouths of ditches and small feeders, 

 by the sides and at the head of the streams, where the 

 current is not too violent, it will not be my fault if he 

 does not succeed to his heart's content, and return home 

 with a heavy basket. 



The following will be found an excellent method to 

 pursue during a full state of the water, when it is rising, 

 and during the height of the flood (if not too violent). 

 At this time, use the worm, slug, caterpillar, or grubs 

 of any kind, all of which will be greedily taken. When 

 it has subsided a little, and the waters clear off to a 

 brownish, or dilute porter colour, spin the minnow ; 

 and when the river has nearly resumed its ordinary 

 state, a rather large and gaudy fly (red with gold twist, 

 or an orange body) will be found to do execution among 

 large trout. 



Besides the above seasons and conditions of water, 

 the professed worm-fisher will often use it with deadly 



