FISHING WITH WORM 203 



lie watching for the first chance of the food that cornes down. 

 If the young angler will note carefully, he will see that small 

 sticks, straws, flies, and whatever may come down, usually 

 take a turn round this eddy before they are swept down- 

 stream. As the rapid narrows where it makes its shoot, all 

 food is brought together in a small compass, and is also swept 

 into this eye, where the best trout lie expecting it. 



In casting a worm, it is advisable to commence with a line 

 no longer than the rod, and this may be increased while throw- 

 ing in the usual way. In bringing out the line behind over 

 the shoulder, the return must not be made so abruptly as it 

 is with the fly, or the worm will speedily be whipped off or torn, 

 but while bringing the rod to the forward motion a much 

 wider and rounder sweep must be made. The line must be 

 perfectly extended, with the worm at the extreme end of it, 

 and, if I may so express it, " at rest," before the return is made. 

 The worm will consequently fall so low that it touches the 

 surface of the water before it is again impelled forward, and, 

 if a good worm-fisher is watched when at work, this will be 

 seen constantly to take place. To get into the regular swing, 

 to do it neatly, and to cast accurately, require a good deal of 

 practice ; and an expert worm-fisher can cast a good long line 

 with a worm at the end neatly and effectively. If the water 

 be coloured, a line a trifle longer than the rod is sufficient, and 

 the underhand lift or throw will answer all purposes ; but 

 clear water requires a longer line and more careful manipula- 

 tion. 



In fishing with the worm, more particularly with the single 

 hook, when you are not mid-water fishing but are letting the 

 bait ground, you should always cast so far up-stream as to 

 permit the worm to reach the bottom just above the point 

 where you expect fish, so that it may come trundling along 

 over the favourite feeding-ground like the natural and free 

 bait. In this style of fishing, when the worm enters the water, 

 sink the point of the rod towards the surface, to allow it freely 

 to find the bottom ; but when you have reason to believe 

 that it has reached it, or nearly so, gradually raise the point 

 as the line comes home towards you ; but you are to remark 

 that this must only be done so as to draw up the slack line, 

 not pulling upon the worm in any way. Indeed, the progress 

 of the worm should neither be hastened nor retarded in the 

 least by any act of the angler's, but it should be allowed to 

 come down as if it had neither line nor hook attached to it. 



