90 



THE TROUT 



bends. Holding the rod firmly in the right hand, let go the 

 line, and with a little practice you will find the bait drop 

 lightly into the water at the extremity of the rod and line ; 

 and then, either draw your line gently across the water, or 

 carry your bait down the stream, as above directed. The 

 eddy by the side of a mill-tail, or flood-gate, or water-fall, is 

 a good place to try the lob-worm. The deep holes near 

 overhanging trees and old stumps, and those parts of the river 

 where the stream has undermined the banks, are also the 

 haunts of the largest trout. 



" When the water is discolored by rain, your tackle may 

 be strong, and you will not easily be seen by the fish ; but if 

 the water be clear, and the day bright, your only chance for 

 taking trout with the worm, will be by using fine tackle, and 

 keeping completely out of sight. 



" The lob-worm is also used, without any shot on the line, 

 after sunset in summer, by drawing it on the top of the water, 

 across a sharp mill-stream, when the trout will rise and take 

 the bait at the top of the water, as they would the fly ; and 

 in this manner very large trout are frequently taken. 



" The gentle, or maggot, is a good bait for a trout, during 

 the months of June, July, and August, and may be used, with 

 a small float, carrying one or two shot-corns, in mill-dams, 

 ponds, and other still waters, allowing your bait to nearly 

 touch the ground. 



" I shall now* describe a method of bottom-fishing, with a 

 bait which I have found, in certain situations and seasons, 

 more successful than any other. The same tackle may be 

 used as before described for the gentle, i. e. a fine gut bot- 

 tom, with hook No. 10, and a small quill float, carrying one 

 or two small shot-corns. 



" Procure a wide-necked bottle, and fill it with blue 

 bottle-flies, or the flies caught on newly scattered cow or 

 horse-dung, and with two of these flies bait your hook, and 



