take them He Spawns in June or beginning of July is easily taken for after one or two gentle turns he falls on one side and so is drawn to Land with case Baits His baits are Red-worm and Giltails well scowred Paste Flag-worm Wasps a Grashopper his Legs cut oft and Flies under water when he bites he 'l draw the bait towards the farther fide of the River Angle with a Float and let the bait touch the ground CHAP. XIX Observations on the Barbel Haunts 1. BArbel in Summer lives in the strongest swifts of the water and under the shades of Trees they much delight in the shallowest and sharpest Streams and lurk under weeds feeding on Gravel against a rising ground where he 'l root and dig in the Sand with his Nose like a Hog and there nests himself yet sometimes he lies about deep and swift waters at Bridges Floodgates or Weirs where he 'l remain among Piles or hollow places and the swiftness of the water is not able to force him thence at the approach of Winter he forsakes the swift Streams and shallow waters and by degrees retires to those parts of the River that are quiet and deep Spawning time 2. He 's none of the best Fish either for wholsomness or taste they Spawn about April and the Spawn is very unwholsom almost Poyson grow in season about a month after Spawning Biting time 3. Bites early in the morning until 10 a Clock and late in the evening from the end of May all June July and August and is a cunning wary subtil and strong Fish will struggle long and unless dexterously managed breaks both Rod and Line they flock together like Sheep and are at worst in April Baits 4. His baits must be sweet clean well scowred and not kept in musty sowr Moss and his bait must touch the ground and to be Angled for with a Float His prime baits are Gentles not too much scowred so is new Cheese Pasts Red-worm and Dew-worm well scowred he 'l often nibble or suck the bait off the Hook and yet avoid the Hooks coming into his mouth CHAP. XX. Observations on the Roch Dace or Dare. Haunts THey like Gravel and Sand and the deepest part of the River under shades of Trees are Fish of no great esteem very simple become in Season within 3 weeks after Spawning the Dace or Dare Spawn about the middle of March and the Roch about the middle of May he 's called the Fresh Water Sheep for his Simplicity and is caught in Ponds within 2 foot or less of the top but the Dace should have his bait within 6 inches of the bottom and sometimes to touch the bottom best baits for them are the Earth bob Gentles Cod-bait Clap-bait Oak worm and the Fly especially the Ant Fly but within the water and any Worm bred on Herbs or Trees as Hawthorn-worm Colewort and Cabbage-worm Paste Sheeps-blood Lip-berries Grain Wasps and small white Snails c. Angle for them in Ponds under water Dock leaves they will likewise take Giltails and Brandlings especially if the water be discoloured with Rain CHAP. XXI Observations on the Chub or Chevin Nature and Spawning time of the Chub. CHub is no good Fish timorous although large must be eaten the same day he 's caught his Head is the best part of him his Spawn is good and he Spawns in March and becomes in Season a month after Spawning and is in season from Mid-May until after Candlemas but his best season is Winter Haunt 2. He likes sandy and clay bottoms large Rivers and Streams shaded with Trees in Summer you 'l find many together in a hole sometimes floating on the top of the water they may be then caught by dibbing and in hot weather he 's caught near the mid-water or top in colder weather nearer the bottom or aâ— bottom by a Ledger bait that is when the bait rests on the ground in a certain or firm place Biting time 3. They bite from Sun-rising until 8 a Clock and from 3 in the Afternoon till Sun set After struck he quickly yields if a large one but the lesser struggle briskly and longer Baits 4. He 'l take almost any fort of bait but his best baits are seven eyes and Eel brood each about thickness of a Straw also the Red-worm and Dew-worm well scowred the Earth-bob and brains of an Ox or Cow Cheefe Paste and the Pith or Marrow of an Ox or Cows back bone tenderly and carefully take off the outward tough skin and be sure you leave the inward and tender white skin fase and untouched or your labour is lost which are very good baits for the cooler months In the hot months he takes all sort of baits bred on Trees or Herbs especially the Oak-worm Crab-tree worm Palmers Catterpillars Cod-baits Gentles the young brood of Wasps Horners and Humble Bees Beetles their Legs cut off Dores Grashoppers Clap-baits white Snails and black Snails their belly slit that the white appear these Snails he takes very early in the morning but not in the heat of the day He likewise takes Lip-berries Colewort worm Cabbage-worm Fern fly and likewise a Moth with a great head like an Owl with whitish wings and a yellow body they fly abroad in Summers evenings in Gardens he loves a large bait as a Wasp and a Colewort worm and then a Wasp all on the hook at a time and he would have divers fort of Flies on at once and a Fly and a Cod-bait or Oak-worm together He 'l likewise take the great brown fly which lives on an Oak like a scarabe How to Fish for him 5. He 's caught by a Float at mid water or lower at top by dibbing and at bottom by a ledger bait when Cattel in Summer come into the Fords their Dung draweth Fish into the lower end thereof at such time Angle for Chub with tackle and baits suitable and you 'l have Sport Take off the Beetles legs and uppermost Wings when you use him CHAP. XXII Observations on the Eel Their Kinds 1. THere are four forts of Eels the Silver Eel the greenish Eel the blackish Eel which hath a broader flatter and larger head then ordinary and the Eel with red Fins the blackish Eel is the worst They live about 10 years and after they get into the Sea they never return They are always in season and the older the better They are impatient of cold for in the 6 cooler months they stir not up and down neither in Rivers or Ponds but get into the soft earth or mud and there many of them bed themselves together they seldom stir in the day time unless the water be mudded and raised a little by rain but is most usually caught in the night Haunts 2. In the day time they hide themselves under some covert roots of Trees Stocks Stones Boards or Planks about Floodgates Weirs Bridges or Mills or in holes in the Rivers bank they are a pleasant and delicate Fish and one may easily
and cut open the round Stalk you 'l also find a Worm like the former in the husk but tougher and in that respect better both these Worms are to be kept in bran and baited on the bristled book as the Ash-grub and when you Angle for Grayling with them use a Float and the smallest Lines and the bait to be 5 or 6 inches from ground A Trout rarely takes either Ash-grub or Flag-worm Gentles or Maggots 16. Are kept with dead Flesh beasts Liver or Suet or which is better keep cleanse or seour them in Meal or Wheat-bran You may breed them by pricking a beasts Liver full of Holes hang it in the Sun in Summer time and set under an old course barrel or small Ferkin with Clay and Bran in it into which they will drop and therein cleanse themselves and be always ready for use and thus Gentles may be created until Michaelmas but if you would fish with them from Michaelmas to May-Day then get a dead Cat Kite or other Carrion at the letter end of September and let it be Fly-blown and when the Gentles begin to be alive stir or creep then bury it and then in soft moist Earth deep in the ground that the Frost kill them not and they 'l serve to use till March or April following about which time they 'l turn to be Flies Gentiles are sometimes added to a Worm and sometimes put on the point of a Dub-fly Hook for Salmon Smelts but most commonly they are used by themselves when you go to Fish with Gentles put them in a Horn wherein are small holes bored to let in air with some Wheat-bran only And some shave some of a Barbers Sweet Wash-ball into the bran Others anoint the Horn wherein the Gentles are in bran with Honey and others persume the Horn wherein they are kept with Musk and Civet you may imitate a Gentle with white Jersey Wooll if you be mindful to joyn it to another bait or fly for Salmon-Smelts Gentles are very good baits for Roch Dace Chub Carp Tench Barbel and Bleak Sheeps Blood 17. Dry it in the Air upon a board or trencher till it become pretty hard then cut it into small pieces proportioned for the fize of the Hook some add a little Salt to it which keeps it from growing black and say it makes it not worse but better it s a good bait for Chub Roch and Dace if rightly ordered Grain Wheat Malt. 18. When you use Grain as Malt Wheat c. boyl it soft in milk or which is liked better in sweet Wort and peel off the outward rind which is the bran and then use it or if you will you may then fry it in Honey and Milk or steep it in some strong scented Oyls as Amber Spike Polypody Ivy Annise Turpentine c. For Fish can smell else Nature had bestowed Nostrils in vain on them which were ridiculous to think Grain is a good bait either in Winter or Summer for Chub Roch Dace and Bleak Ant-Fly 19. When the Ant-fly is plentifullest which is in the end of June July August and most of September go to the Ant-Hills where they breed take a great handful of the Earth with as much of the root of the Grass that groweth on those Hillocks put all into a large glass bottle then gather a great quantity of the blackest Ant-flies their bodies and wings unbruised put them into a Bottle or Firkin if you would keep them long first washed with Honey or Water and Honey these in any stream and cleer Water are a deadly bait for Roch Dace and Chub and you must Angle with them under the Water no less than a handful from the bottom Take an Ant-fly or May-fly sink him with a little Lead to the bottom near to the Piles posts of a bridge Post of a Weir or any deep places where Roches lye quietly and then pull your Fly up very leisurely and usually a Roch will follow your bait to the very top of the water and gaze on it there and run at it and take it least the Fly escape him An t fly may be kept alive as is directed two or three Months Young brood of Wasps Hornets and Humble-Bees 20. Dry them upon a Fire-shovel or Tilestone or in an Oven cooling after baking lest they burn and to avoid that lay them on a thin board or chip and cover them with another so supported as not to crush them or else clap two cakes together this way they will keep long and stick on the Hook well if you boyl them a minute or two in water or milk they grow black in a few days but are good for present use these are singular good baits for Roch Dace and Chub and you may try them for Carp Tench and Bream which I fancy will scarce refuse them Salmon Spawn 21. Is a very good bait for Chub. Take the Spawn and boil it so hard as to stick on the Hook and then use it or not boiled at all is used by some others take the Spawn and put good store of Salt to it and hang the same in a Linnen bag in the Kitchen but far off the Fire and it will be hard and then they steep it the night before it is used in Strong Waters Some exspert Anglers preserve Salmon-Spawn from pineing with Salt or discolouring with moisture by laying it upon Wooll in a pot one layr of Spawn and another of Wooll to the silling of the Pot and t is a lovely bait for the Winter and Spring especially if used where Salmons use to Spawn for thither the Fish are gathered and there expect it Minnow Loach and Bull-Head 22. Are baits for Pike Pearch Chub Eel and great Trout The Trout takes these baits about a Foot within water and sometimes lower in the deeps in March April and September when the Wind is in the South or Southwest and bloweth strongly curling the Waters and raising high waves in Summer-months he takes them not in the day time unless the day be dark and the Wind high and then you must add some Lead to the Line and sink these baits to the bottom for the Trout will not take them at mid-water in a cleer water in Summer and although these baits are only taken by Pike and Trout in a cleer water in the day time yet you may bait night Hooks with them and they are an excellent bait either for Chub Pike Trout or Eel in the night Minnows of a middle size and whitish are the best tho the Minnow is a very good bait for Jack Pearch and Trout yet Experience tells me that a small Loach or Bull-Head his guil fins being cut off are better than Minnows by many degrees When you Angle with Minnow small Loach or Bull head for Trout be sure the bait turn quick and be always in motion Lamprey Pride or Seaven Eyes 23. Are all one and like unto small Eels no thicker than a straw and may be found in sandy
muddy heaps in Rivers near the side almost as easily as Worms in a Dung-hill and are good baits either by night or day for Chubs and Eels so are small Eel-brood for Chubs Snails 24. Both the white and black Snal his belly slit that the white appear are good baits for the Chub very early in the morning but in the heat of the day he cares not for them likewise Trouts and Eels will take them at the night-Hook in the night Grass-hopper 25. Fish take them best in the latter end of June all July and August cut off their Legs and outwards wings the middle size are best For Trout or Grayling you may Lead your Hook on the shank with a slender plate of Lead made narrowest and slenderest at the bent of the Hook that the plate may come over it then draw him over the Lead after put a lesser or a Cod-bait on the point and keep your bait in continual motion lifting it up and sinking again pull off the Grashoppers uppermost Wings a Chub will likewise very well take this bait Others and very expert Anglers too use with good success only the Tail or half of the Grashopper putting on the Hook first a young Beetle or Sharn-bud which is found in a Cow-turd of a day or two old and they take of the higher hard Wings and then she puts forth a long pair coloured like those of the Pad Fly this in a close water and which breeds a large Trout is as killing a bait as any whatever but t is not so good in a shallow cleer and open River by the opinion of many you may dib with the Grass-hopper either for Chub or Toout Water-Cricket Water-Lowse or Creeper 26. Are all one and are excellent good for a Trout in March April or before 't is found under hollow-stones in the Water and you may fish within half a foot or a foot off the bottom others let it drag on the ground and others and expert Anglers too affirm that if you dibble in the streams about noon on a Sun-shiny day and so for two or three hours therewith in the Month of April for Trouts that 't is a Murthering bait 't is always to be used in a cleer water and is not found in every River These creepers always turn into Stone-flys about May. Lip-Berries 27. Whose true name is Aron-Berries or Berries of Cookow-pints or Wake-Robin these berries proceed from the Herb Aron and are ripe and fit for use in July and August and are of a lovely Red or Orange colour and transparent and are good baits for Roch and especially Chub. Any Apothecary will shew you the Herb in the Spring and do you look for the berries or fruit in July and August Cherries Ras-berries and Black-Berries 28. Are baits for Chubs and they will take them best in Ponds or Rivers where such trees grow near the water and such fruit customarily dropt into them sometimes a Carp will take them Oat-Take or Cheese 29. Are good baits to Angle with for Chub Roch Dace and Barbel when you use a ledger bait your Cheese may be kept a day or two if it be now new which it ought to be in a wet linnen Cloth or steeped a little in Honey To keep baits for Pike 30. Carry baits for Pike as small Roch Dace Gudgeon Salmon Smelt Minow small Trout and small Eels in Bran which will dry up the slimy moisture that is on them and so keep them longer and cause them stick more firmly on the Hook besides there is a green watery substance that issueth out of Fish which will infect and rot them but the Bran dryeth up the same and preventeth that mischief Oak-Fly Ash-Fly or Woodcock-Fly 31. Is call'd by all these names in different places and is a very good Fly from the begining of May until the end of August it s a brownish fly and found on the body of an Oak or Ash and stands frequently with his head downwards towards the root of the Tree t is very proper for a Trout and the best way to use it is to put one on the Hook and sometimes two and at the point of the Hook a Cod-bait and let them sink 6 Inches or a Foot into the water and then raise it again gently having a short dubbing Line and it is a deadly bait for a Trout in a cleer water and sometimes in stead of a Cod-bait use an Oak-worm or green grub got of an Haw-thorn some dub it with black wooll Isabella coloured Mohair and bright brownish Bears hair wrapt on with yellow Silk but the head of an Ash colour Others dub it with an Orange tawny and black ground Others with blackish Wooll and gold Twist about it the wings must be the brown of a Mallards Feather if you could but once dub it aright there would be no need of the natural one Stone-Fly and green Drake 32. I shall say nothing of them here because I shall exactly Describe them when I come to Dub-fly Angling Hawthorn Fly 33. Is a black fly to be found on every Hawthorn bush after the leaves are come forth and is a Fly to be used for dibbing in some Rivers Fish-Eyes 34. Pull out the Eyes of those-Fish you catch and put them on the Hook and they are an excellent bait for most sort of Fish A Rule about Baits 35. Fish take all sorts of baits most eagerly and freely and with the least suspition or bogling when you present the same unto them in such order and manner as Nature affords them or as themselves ordinary gather them and some are peculiar to certain Countries and Rivers of which every Angler may in his own place make his own Observation as some of the foregoing baits will be taken in some particular Rivers and not in others and are sound in some Rivers and not in others and the same baits are taken earlier in some Rivers than others and sooner or later in some years than others according to the quality and season of the year although in general ground-baits are useful and certain almost in every River yet so is not the Fly which varies in colour kind or proportion almost in every River nay in the very same River at 5 or 6 miles distance CHAP. V. Of PASTS THIS Chapter Treats only of Pasts which might have been comprehended under the general Notion of Baits yet since they are Artificial ones and to be Angled with at ground or within the water I judg'd it best to Discourse of them distinctly in a Chapter by themselves and although there are or may be as many and distinct Pasts as the luxurancies of every fancy will suggest yet the subsequent are of best Estimation Pasts 1. Take bean flower and if that be not to be got then wheat flower and the tenderest part of the leg of a young Rabbet whelp or catling as much Virgins Wax and Sheep Suet beat them in a Mortar till they be perfectly incorporated then with a little
hairs of a Squirrels tail and is a very killing Fly The next are 4 Flies which contend for the Title of May Fly but the Green Drake which is taken both in Streams and Stills and that at all hours of the day whilest in season and the Stone-fly taken early and late but not very well in the mid-time of the day have the preheminence of the black May Fly and little yellow May-fly by the general vogue of Anglers 2. Green Drake At full maturity his Wings stand high and closed exact upon his back like the Butter-fly and his motion in flying is the same his body is in some of a paler in others of a darker yellow for they are not all exactly of a colour rib'd with rows of green long slender and growing sharp towards the tail at the end of which he has 3 long small whisks of a very dark colour almost black and his tail turns up towards his back like a Mallard from whence he has his name of Green-Drake Green Drakes Season and Dubbing He comes in about Mid-May and is taken until Midsummer in Mountainous stoney Rivers far earlier in others and that at all hours as aforesaid and is made thus viz. on a large hook the Dubbing Camels hair bright Bears hair the soft Down Combed from a Hogs Bristles and yellow Camlet well mixt together the body long and ribb'd about with green Silk or rather yellow Silk waxt with green wax the whisks of the tail of the long hair of Sables or Fitchet and the wings of the white grey feather of a Mallard died yellow which is died thus viz. Take the Root of a Barberry Tree and put to it woodyvis with as much Allum as a Walnut and boil the feathers in it with Rain-water and they will be of a very fine and curious yellow You may try whether the inner bark of a Crab-tree boil'd with some Allum in water will not do the same and make a fine yellow which I am informed it will but never experienced it 3. Stone-fly described Lies under hollow Stones at the Rivers side his body is long and pretty thick and as broad at the tail almost as in the middle his colour a very fine brown ribb'd with yellow and much yellower on the belly than on the back he hath 2 or 3 whisks also at the tag of his tail and 2 little horns on his head his wings when full grown are double and flat down his back of the same colour but rather darker than his body and longer than it though he makes but little use of them for he rarely flies though often swims and paddles with several feet he has under his belly upon the water without stirring a wing but the Drake will mount Steeple height into the Air tho' hee 's found upon Flags and Grass too and indeed every where high and low near the River Stone-flies Season The Stone fly comes in about middle of April and continues until the end of June or Midsummer It s proper for Streams rather than Stills and taken best early and late but not so well at mid-time of the day if there be a whistling wind then it may be taken in the deep stills of the River Stone-flies dubbing it s a very killing Fly and made of Bears Dun with a litle brown and yellow Camlet very well mixt but so placed that the Fly may be more yellow on the belly and towards the tail underneath than in any other part and you are to place 2 or 3 hairs of a black Cats beard on the top of the hook in the arming so as to be turn'd up when you warp on your Dubbing and to stand almost upright and staring one from another and note that the Fly is to be rib'd with yellow Silk and the wings long and very large of the dark grey feather of a Mallard or which I intend to try o◠the brown soft feather of a Kite 4. Black May Fly Is the next May Fly made with a black body of the whirle of an Ostridge feather rib'd with Silver twist and the black Hackle of 〈◊〉 Cock over all and is a killing Fly but not 〈◊〉 compare with the green Drake and Stone fly 5. Little yellow May-fly Being the last of the 4 of the same shap◠of the green Drake but a very little one of a bright a yellow as can be seen made of a bright yellow Camlet wings of a white grey feather died yellow 6. Grey Drake Is in all shapes and dimensions perfectly the same with the green Drake but quite almost of another colour being of a paler and more livid yellow and green and ribb'd with black quite down his body with black shining wings diaphanous and very tender Cobweb like it comes in and is taken after the green Drake and in a Dub-fly kills very well It s made of the whitish Down of a Hogs bristles and black Spaniels Fur mixt and rib'd down the body with black Silk the whisks of the tail of the hairs of the Beard of a black Cat and the wings of the black grey feather of a Mallard 7. Camlet Fly Is taken from Mid-May unto the end of June is in shape like a Moth with fine Diapred or water wings and made of a dark brown shining Camlet rib'd over with very small light green Silk and the wings of the double grey feather of a Mallard and is a very killing Fly for Graylings and small Fish ☞ I had thought here to have put a period to the Description of any more Flies for May yet since there are 9 Flies of small esteem comparatively with the foregoing 7 I will insert them for the Readers sake who is at liberty either to use or reject them as his fancy is 8. Turky Fly Dubbing ravell'd out of some blew stuff and lapt about with yellow Silk the wings of a grey Mallards feather 9. Yellow Palmer Made with a yellow body rib'd with Gold twist and large Wings of a Mallards feather died yellow with a red Capons Hackle over all 10. Black Fly Dubbing of a black Spaniels Fur and the wings of a grey Mallards Feather 11. Light brown Made of a light brown with a slender body the dubbing twirled upon small red Silk and raised with the point of a Needle that the ribs or rows of Silk may appear through the wings of the grey feather of a Mallard 12. Little Dun Dubbing of Bears Dun whirled upon yellow Silk wings of a Mallards grey feather 13. White Gnat With a pale wing and a black head 14. Peacock Fly Body made of the whirl of a Peacocks feather with a red head and wings of a Mallards feather 15. Tow-Lady A little fly the body of a Peacocks feather the wing of a red feather or strips of the red hackle of a Cock. 16. Cow-turd fly Dubbing light brown and yellow mixt the wings of the dark grey feather of a Mallard Dub-flies for June From the 1 to the 24 are taken the Green-Drake
the vent another on the contrary side the bait will play better 9. In casting with Trowling or at Snap be sure to raise your hand a little when you see the bait ready to fall into the water this will prevent that the bait dash not violently into the water in its fall which affrights the Pike tho he be a bold Fish when it falls behind and near unto him 10. Make your Lead for the Trowl four square and much thicker and shorter than most use the square will keep the hook in the same place as you set it and the thick short Lead sinks him with his head downwards so that he will not shoot sloopwise as he doth when the Lead is long 11. Join your wire links together with a Steel Ring the bait will play and sink better if it lye only in the baits mouth it will not entangle in the line so often 12. A larger bait doth more invite the Pike but a lesser takes him more surely as soonest gorged and the hook cortainly taken into his mouth both at Snap and Trowl 13. Use a large white Menow put on with the hook in his mouth Angle with him for a Pike as you do for a Trout and let your hook be small use not a great hook with a small bait Angling for Pike with Minnow Get a single hook long and slender in the shank put lead upon it as thick near the bent as will go into the Menows mouth place the point of the hook directly up the face of the Fish let the Rod be as long as you can handsomely manage with a line of the same length cast up and down and manage it as when you trowl with any other bait if when the Pike hath taken it he run to the end of the Line before he hath gorged it do not strike but hold still only and he will return back and swallow it but if you use that bait with a Trowl some esteem it the very best for Pike Snaring young Pikes or Iacks In May June and July Pikes soar on the waters surface or near it then six a Snare of Wire to the end of a strong Packthread a yard and half long and the other end of the Packthread to a long Pole or Goad your Snare being open you may observe Jacks to lye on the top of the water and you may easily put it over them andwith a quick and smart jerk hoist them amain to Land Hooking Pikes in Ditches Or you may take a line of 7 or 8 foot and thereunto arm a hook of the largest size and lead the shank of the hook neatly that the weight may guide it at pleasure and you may strike the Pike with the bare hook where you please when they go a Frogging into Ditches in May June and July and you see them soaring on the superficies of the water CHAP. XXXVIII Of Fish Ponds 1. WHen the ground is dreined and the Earth made firm where the Ponds head must be in that place drive in 2 or 3 rows of Oak or Elm-Piles and lay Faggots of smaller Wood betwixt them and Earth betwixt and above them very well rammed and then set another row of Piles as the first which should be about the height you intend to make the Sluice or Flood-gate or the vent conveying the over-flowings of your Pond in any Flood that may endanger the breaking of the Ponds Dam. The depth of the Pond should be about 7 foot except at some one end or fide it be very shallow which is necessary for the preservation of the Spawn and Fry of Fish 2. Plant Willowes or Alders about it and cast in some Faggots in sandy places not far from the side for Fish to Spawn on and defend their Spawn and young Fry from Ducks Herons Frogs and Vermin especially the Spawn of Carp and Tench 3. Contrive the Pond so as the water may be continually renewed by some Rill or Rain-water which inclines Fish both to breed and feed better and makes them be of a better and pleasanter taste So Pools that are large have gravelly bottoms and shallows for Fish to sport themselves on make them purely tasted so hollow banks shelves roots of Trees preserves them from their Enemies and Shades defend them in Summer from heat and in Winter from cold But many Trees growing about the Pond is ill for Fish because the falling and rotting of the leaves makes the water stink and sowr and the Fish ill tasted 4. Carp loves gravelly stony sandy grourd and breed best in Marle Pils or Pits that have clean clay bottoms or in new Ponds or Ponds that lye dry a Winter season and in old Ponds full of mud and weeds that are warm and free from wind and have Grass growing on the bottom or sides whereon in the hot months they 'l feed and eat and would likewise have Willows grow on the sides of the Pond Tench and Eel love mud cleanse and drain your Ponds every 3 or 4 years letting them lye dry 6 or 12 months to kill the water weeds as Water-Lillies Caudocks Reat and Bulrushes that breed there and as these Die sow Oats and let Grass grow on the bottom and sides of the Pond for Carps to feed on and observe what kind of Fish either feed best or thrive in the water of the respective Ponds and suit them accordingly 5. Often feed the Fish by throwing into them Chippings of Breâ—d Grains Curds or the intrails of Chickens or of any Fowl or Beast that you kill for your self So Garden Earth and Parsly thrown into a Pond recovers and refreshes sick Fish When you store a breeding Pond put in 2 or 3 Males for one Femole but in a seeding Pond take no care whether there be more Males or Female Carps others and more rationally advise to put in two Females for one Male into the breeding Pond 6. Carps and Tench thrive and breed best when no other Fish is but with them into the same Pond for all other Fish devour their Spawn 7. Pike Pearch and Roches may be put into one Pond the two first will feed on the Roch which is a great breeder likewise put with them Dates Gudgeons Mennows 8. In Winter break the Ice if a great Frost and make several holes in the Ice for Fish to breath at and throw Bean-straw into the Pond if you suspect a hard Frost to approach and kill and destroy all Herons Seaguis King Fishers Water-Coots Water-Rats Water-Mice Bltterns and Otters that frequent the Pond and suffer not much Shooting at Wild-fowl for that affrightens harms and destroys Fish CHAP. XXXIX Manner of Dressing Fish ALthough I cannot pretend to the least Skill in Cookery yet I will not deny but that as the times phrase it I understand somthing of Eating and very well know that the Angler when from Home and would Pleasure his Friends with the fruit of his Recreations frequently meets with such ill Huswives at ordinary Inns or Ale-houses being
if the water be clear but bigger if something dark until you have taken one then order the matter as you are directed cap. 7. sect 11. CHAP. XXXV Artificial Fly Angling I Did once determine to have wholly omitted any particular description of Dub-flies for the reasons already deliver'd in the beginning of the 34 Chapter of this Book Yet I think it not amiss to insert a Catalogue that will serve as a Basis for any person with discreet variations and Observations to raise a superstructure for his own particular Country and use in any part of England and will afford no mean light to the perfect understanding and attainment of the Art of Dub-fly Angling which is as delightsome a way of Angling as any whatsoever if the River you frequent be but plentifully stored with Fish And I will begin with February that being early enough for any Gentleman to enter on this Recreation by reason of wetness and coldness of the weather The first of March being commonly as soon as I ever begun to Angle and Michaelmas day the time of the year I deflst from that Sport Dub-flies for February Little red brown 1. Is made of the Fur of the black spot of a Hogs Ear because there its softest warpt on with red Silk wings of the male of a Mallard almost white Palmer-Fly or plain hackle 2. Is made with a rough black body either of black Spaniels Fur or the whirle of an Estridge Feather and the red Hackle of a Capon over all Silver Hackle 3. Made with a black body also Silver twist over that and a red Feather over all Great Hackle 4. The body black and wrapped with a red feather of a Capon untrimm'd that is the whole length of the Hackle staring out for sometimes we barb the Hackle feather short all over sometimes barb it only a little and sometimes bath it close underneath leaving the whole length of the Feather on the top or back of the Fly which makes it swim better and on a whirling round water kills great Fish Gold Hackle 5. The body black rib'd over with Gold twist and a red feather over all do's great Execution Great Dun 6. Made with Dun Bears hair and the wings of the grey feather of a Mallard near unto his tail the very best Fly for this month and makes admirable Sport Great blew Dun. 7. Dubbing of the bottom of Bears hair next to the roots mixt with a little blew Camlet the wings of the dark grey feather of a Mallard Dark brown 8. Dabbing of the brown hair of the flank of a brindled Cow and the gray feather of a Drake for Wings These Hackles are some for one Water and Sky and some for another and accordingly the size and colour are alter'd and use a small Hackle if the water be clear or a bigger if something dark and when you cannot know certainly in this month or any other what Fly is taken put on a small Hackle if the water be clear but bigger if something dark and the first Fish you take proceed with him as you are directed c. 7. sect 11. Dub-flies for March. Use all the same Hackles and Flies with February but make them less Little whirling Dun 1. Made of the bottom Fur of a Squirrels tail and the wing of the grey feather of a Drake Early light brown 2. Made either of brown of a Spaniel or of hair of a red Cows flank with grey wing Whitish Dun 3. Made of the roots of Camels hair wings of a Mallards gray feather Thorn-tree Fly 4. Dubbing of an absolute black mixt with 8 or 10 hairs of Isabella coloured Mohair body as little as can be made wings of a bright Mallards feather an admirable Fly and in great repute for a killer Blew Dun. 5. Comb the neck of a black Greyhound with a small tooth Comb and the Down that sticks in its Teeth is a fine blew wherewith Dub this Fly the wings can scarce be too white and it s taken from the 10th till the 24. Little black Gnat 6. Is taken from the tenth until almost the end of this month made either of the Fur of a black water Dog or the down of a young black water Coot the wings of the Male of a Mallard as white as may be the body as little as you can possibly make it and the wings as short as body Later bright brown 7. Taken from the 16 to the 10th of April Dubbing to be got out of a Skinnors Lime-Pits and of the hair of an Abortive Calf which the Lime will turn to be so bright as to shine like Gold wings of the feather of a brown Hen is best Green-tail Is taken in March and part of April made of pale brown fur got from a Spaniels ear and a little Willow green Wooll mixt at the tail wings of the feather of a Shepstares Quill Dub-flies for April All the same Hackles and Flies that were taken in March will be taken in April also with this distinction only concerning the Flies that all the browns be lapt with red Silk and the Duns with yellow Silk Small bright brown 1. Made of Spaniels Fur with a light grey wing in a bright day and clear water is very well taken Little dark brown 2. The Dubbing of dark brown and Violet Camlet mixt grey feather of a Mallard for wings Great whirling Dun 3. From the 12 of this month is taken all the month through about mid-time of the day and by Fits from thence to the end of June and is one of the best Flies we have it s commonly made of the Down of a Fox Cub which is of an Ash-colour at the roots next the skin and rib'd about with yellow Silk the wings of the pale grey feather of a Mallard Violet Fly 4. From the 6th to the 10th of this month is taken made of a dark violet stuff Mallards grey feather for Wings Yellow Dun 5. Dubbing of Camels hair and yellow Camlet or yellow Wool of a Blanket well mixt and some add Bears hair and a white grey wing Horse-flesh Fly 6. Is taken best in an Evening and kills best from 2 hours before Sun-set until twilight is taken the month through Dubbing of blew Mohair with Pink coloured and red tammy mixt a light coloured wing and a dark brown head It begins to be taken best about the 20 of the month Dub-flies for May. All the same Hackles and Flies the Hackles only brighter and the Flies smaller that are taken in April will also be taken in May and likewise all Browns and Duns Next follow 7 of the very prime Flies for May and indeed of all the year especially the Green-Drake and Stone-fly and then 9 of small esteem in comparison with the first seven yet such as will kill Fish too 1. Dun-cut Is the first of the seven its Dubbing is of Bears Dun with a little blew and yellow mixt with it a large Dun-wing and 2 horns at the head made of the