BAIT-FISHING. 431 



better than the very rough freshes, though even for this 

 kind of fishing perfectly still water is not so well calcu- 

 lated as that rate of stream, which will move the bait 

 without destroying its form or texture. 



The various modes of taking trout will be now entered 

 upon. First, fishing with the worm is practised by 

 obtaining all the apparatus and bait described above ; the 

 angler then, with his wading-boots on, if he uses them, 

 quietly wades into a part of the river which will command 

 an extensive sweep of likely water; or, if preferring 

 terra firma, he keeps as much as possible out of sight of 

 the fish upon a part of the bank suitable for his purpose, 

 and below the water to be fished. It must be known, 

 that the worm should in all cases be cast up stream, and 

 suffered to float down again, for reasons which will be 

 clear enough when explained, as follows : — first, the trout 

 always lie head up stream, and therefore do not see the 

 angler so well below them as above ; secondly, the bait 

 floats gently down without injury, which must be done to 

 it if dragged against stream ; thirdly, in hooking the fish, 

 the barb is much more likely to lay hold in this way than 

 if he is struck in the line of the axis of his body ; and 

 fourthly, the water is not disturbed by the wader till it 

 has been already fished. The angler swings or casts his 

 worm gently as far up-stream as he can, using as long a 

 line as he can easily manage, and no more, and suffering 

 it to float down with the stream till within a short distance 

 of the place were he is standing, when it should be lifted 

 and re-cast. When a fish is felt to bite or lay hold of the 

 worm, wait a few seconds till he has done nibbling, and 



