Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/203

 21: the beginning of May: they are past with July. They be yellow when they be ripe, and have a black head. This is a deadly bait for a Trout, either aloft [on the surface] or at the ground; if your tools be fine and you come close: for the Trout of all other fish, is most affrighted with sight. And indeed it should be considered that fish are afraid of any extraordinary motion or sight of whatsoever colour: except the Pike; which will be open to your sight on a sunshiny day, till you halter him.

The Trout will take also the worm, menise or any bait: so will the Pike, save that he will not take the fly.

22 [p. 171]: There be divers ways to catch the wrinkling Eel. Your line must be stronger—six or seven hairs—and your hook accordingly: for she must upon the hooking presently [immediately] be drawn forth with force: otherwise she fastens herself with her tail about a root or stone or such like; and so you lose your labour, your hook, and the fish. The worm or menise are her common bait.

There is a way to catch Eels by "Braggling:" thus. Take a rod, small and tough, of sallow, hazel or such like, a yard long, as big as a beanstalk. In the small end thereof, make a nick or cleft with a knife; in which nick put your strong but little hook baited with a red worm; and made sure to a line of ten or twelve good hairs, but easily that the Eels may pull it out.

Go into some shallow place of the river among the great stones, and braggle up and down till you find holes under the stones. There put in your hook so baited at your rod's end, and the Eel under the stone will not fail to take it. Give her time to put it over; and then, if your strength will serve, she is your own.

There is a third usual way to catch Eels, called "Bobbing." Upon a long and double strong thread, two yards long or thereabouts, spit some many great red worms—gotten in a summer's evening with a candle—as the thread will hold lengthways through the midst, and link them about your hand like a rope, thus