THE TROUT. 



towards you, as if you were angling with a fly. And believe 

 me, whoever will try, shall find this the best way of all others 

 to angle with a worm, in a bright water especially; but then 

 his rod must be very light and pliant, and very true and finely 

 made, which, with a skilful hand will do wonders, and in a 

 clear stream is undoubtedly the best way of angling for a 

 trout or grayling, with a worm, by many degrees, that any 

 man can make choice of, and of most ease and delight to the 

 Angler. To which let me add, that if the Angler be of a 

 constitution that will suffer him to wade, and will slip into 

 the tail of a stream, to the calf of the leg or the knee, and so 

 keep off the bank, he shall almost take what fish he pleases.'' 



The following pertinent remarks for clear weather, from 

 Blaine, should have place in the memory of every lover of 

 trout angling : 



" Trout are to be taken in clear weather, when they will 

 not touch either minnow or fly ; and there is certainly more 

 art and sportsmanship in fishing with the worm at that time, 

 than some people imagine or acknowledge. When to the 

 advantage of bright weather are added those of clear and 

 shallow streams, much artifice must be employed. Your 

 tackle very fine, your hook small, (No. 5, 6, or 7,) and your 

 baits well scoured and lively. A wheel will enable you to 

 vary the length of your line as occasion dictates ; and though 

 in general it must be as long or longer than your rod, yet 

 where there is wood, &c. &c., you may by shortening it, get 

 at the holes, and still contrive to keep out of sight, for com- 

 pletely so to be must never be forgotten kneel, stoop or 

 stand out of sight you must be ; and then if you can lightly 

 and neatly drop in a lively brandling, near the likely holds or 

 haunts in a strong stream, especially near the top of it, let the 

 sun shine ever so bright, be the wind rough or calm, and the 

 water ever so clear, you will kill fish when they are not to be 

 taken by any other mode." 



