Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/202

 *. The Roach is one of the meanest.]. Diversely. For the Trout is a ravening fish, and at that time of the day comes from his hole, if he come at all.]. The Trout makes the Angler the most gentlemanly and readiest sport of all other fishes: if you angle with a made fly, and a line twice your rod's length or more, of three hairs, in a plain water without wood, in a dark windy day from mid-afternoon, and have learned the cast of the fly.

Your fly must counterfeit the May Fly, which is bred of the cad bait; and is called the Water Fly. You must change his colour every month; beginning with a dark white and so grow to a yellow. The form cannot so well be put on a paper, as it may be taught by slight [? sight]: yet it will be like this form.

The head is of black silk or hair; the wings of a feather of a mallard, teal, or pickled hen's wing; the body of crewel, according to the month for colour, and run about with a black hair: all fastened at the tail with the thread that fastened the hook. You must fish in or by the stream, and have a quick hand, a ready eye and a nimble rod. Strike with him! or you lose him.

If the wind be rough, and trouble the crust of the water: he will take it in the plain deeps: and then and there commonly the greatest will rise. When you have hooked him, give him leave! keeping your line straight. Hold him from the roots, and he will tire himself. This is the chief pleasure of Angling.

This fly, and two links, among wood or close by a bush, moved in the crust of the water; is deadly in an evening, if you come close [hidden]. This is called "Busking for Trout."

Cad bait is a worm bred under stones in a shallow river: or in some out-runner of the river, where the streams run not strongly, in a black shale. They stick by heaps on the low side of a great stone, it being hollow. They be ripe in]*