THE TROUT 8i 



angler, and be placed as the first thing that the fish 

 will see. It often happens in this kind of fishing that 

 the troUer sees the fish before he takes the bait ; when 

 this is the case, the rod must be given in a little, that 

 the minnow may appear, as it were, to meet the trout 

 half-way ; but should the trout appear shy, it is best to 

 pull the line away, and do not throw it in again for a 

 short time. Many fine trout are taken by this manoeuvre. 

 The twisting of the bait is the chief beauty in this 

 mode of angling ; the fish sees it at a great distance, 

 and fancying it is making all possible haste to escape, 

 the trout makes the same haste to overtake it. 



WOBM-PISHING FOR TROUT 



Worm-fishing for trout may be divided into two 

 kinds : one, the angling in streams, both when they are 

 full and flooded, and in clear weather when they are 

 purer, and much reduced in bulkj the other, shade- 

 fishing, which is practised in the hottest and brightest 

 days, when the rivers are nearly dried up, and sport can 

 be obtained by scarcely any other means. 



Some anglers are very expert at both these methods, 

 and often kill considerable quantities of fish when the 

 fly-fisher can do nothing. The great secret is to know 

 where the fish lie, to keep the line as perpendicular as 

 possible, and when the water is clear and bright, to 

 have the lightest and finest tackle consistent with the 

 requisite strength. 



The red-worm, which has been sufficiently scoured in 

 moss, is the very best that can be used. Some, indeed, 

 prefer the brandling, but it never stands the water so 

 well as the red-worm. There is a good worm to be 

 found under old cow-dung in the fields, but these are 

 not always to be got when wanted. The worm ought 

 not to be large, for in bright days, when the streams 

 are clear and sparkling, the trout will scarcely even 

 look at a big worm. 



The hooks for worm-fishing should always be straight. 

 Those with a bend generally break the worm speedily, 

 6 



