| 
| 
-performed so as not to jar the bottom 
,if you would be successful in your en- 
jdeavor to bag the canny beauty whose 
‘attention is so closely fixed in the up- 
‘stream direction. 
_ The reel is not important, so long as 
it works smoothly and holds a fair 
‘length of line, which would be necessary 
if we should hook one of those big 
brown trout that early in the season 
_feed so voraciously in the flood water. 
_ A light, undressed line that will run 
\through the guides easily, half a dozen 
gut casts as light as you care to use, 
‘though not tapered, 
‘for they will be at- 
‘tached by a_ heavier 
‘gut than the tapered 
to the hook,.and a 
dozen small worm 
‘hooks with long 
‘shanks nearly fast- 
‘ened to the gut. A 
couple of boxes of 
‘split shot completes 
‘the equipment, all but 
\the worms. 
| Worms are of many 
|kinds, from the pale 
‘blond ones to the 
heavier, dark-red bru- 
inettes; but, for all 
‘practical purposes, 
worms are just 
‘worms, and _ night- 
‘erawlers are _ most 
loathsome. If, how- 
ever, these directions 
are followed, the 
-worst feeling in han- 
| dling the worms will 
be eliminated. 
It is of the greatest 
importance that the 
worms to be used are 
not freshly dug. They 
should be dug at least 
one day before ful- 
filling their destiny, 
and, in a manner of 
‘Speaking, be trained 
s0 that they will re- 
‘main on the _ hook, 
completely covering it, 
not break, or be slimy 
_to the touch, and yet preserve their 
pristine vigor in the face of their trials. 

ERIOUSLY speaking, a little 
trouble taken with the worms will 
make much difference to your feelings 
towards them. At least several hours 
before using, a hundred worms or so 
should be placed in a can containing a 
liberal quantity of only slightly damp- 
ened moss and a couple of handfuls of 
oatmeal or cornmeal. They will thor- 
oughly scour themselves in this mix- 
' ture and the least sprinkling of water 
daily will be sufficient if your tin is 
kept in a cool place. A simliar mix- 
ture should also be placed in the worm 
can carried on your belt when fishing, 
and the moss changed from time to 
time. 
ADING trousers with thick socks 
inside and out and hobnail boots 
“over all’ should now be donned, the 
haversack with luncheon in one com- 
partment put on over one shoulder 
under the landing net cord, and all is 
ready. Or, if one prefers, he may use 
a landing net fitted with a tall, strong 

Early spring worm fishing 
handle, which can be used as a “feel- 
ing” stick while wading. 
If the water is very fast, as it prob- 
ably will be when you worm, the fish 
will be lying just below the riffles, be- 
hind or near the boulders which serve 
as shelter when necessary, or close 
under the bank. The stream should be 
entered on the shallow side and fol- 
lowed down always on the inside bends, 
if the water is really fast, crossings 
being carefully made as near as pos- 
sible to the upstream bend. 
In setting up your tackle, enough 
split shot should be bitten on the cast 
to carry it almost to the bottom of the 
rushing water, the shot being placed 
about four inches apart with the low- 
est about eight or nine inches above 
the hook. Four shot will usually be 
sufficient, though I find it advisable to 
keep another leader with a larger hook 
and seven or eight shot attached in a 
damp tin for us when a deep pool pre- 
sents itself. 
Izaak Walton’s “Compleat Angler’ 
describes in detail a method of baiting 
which will entirely cover the hook and 
prevent the worm slipping off. How- 
ever, a simpler 
method, taught me 
years ago on the Pere 
Marquette by the 
Michigan State Game 
Warden, I find just as 
effective. Enter the 
point of the hook just 
above the “collar” of 
the worm and push 
the worm up _ the 
shank, taking care 
that the point does not 
protrude at any time. 
When the shank is 
covered, ease. the 
worm gently over the 
shaft so that the col- 
lar is on the gut. At 
no place must the 
hook show, and the 
worm should be _in- 
spected after each 
cast. 
With the cast held 
just above the shot, 
gently between the 
forefinger and thumb 
of the left hand, the 
line eshould hang a 
little longer than the 
length of the rod. 
Enough line will be 
unreeled and hang in 
a bight between the 
reel and the first 
guide to be manipu- 
lated handily in cast- 
ing. This bight of 
line is controlled be- 
tween the forefinger 
and thumb of the right hand which is 
grasping the butt of the rod. The cast 
is invariably made in the underhand 
method of releasing the hold of the left 
hand on the line and swinging the bait 
out gently, across and slightly up- 
stream. 
NG it reaches the furthest point, the 
right hand releases the line held 
in check, transferring it to the left 
above the remainder of the bight, as the 
bait reaches the water. The left hand 
now controls the line so that no slack 
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