Chapter and but half length of Rod. Float or Cork lines length thickness 17. The Line for Float Angle should be made as that directed at the 14 Section of this Chapter for thickness but should be as long or rather longer than the Rod for Rivers but shorter then the Rod for Pitts Ponds Meares and standing Waters and the colour of three or four lowermost links according to the colour of the water that is a Chess-nut or Sorrel colour for a muddy water but a white or grey for cleer waters Dibbing line 18. Dibbing line should be of the same length and thickness of a line for running worm in a muddy water and the hair of a white colour or it may be a hair or two thicker because little of the line comes in the water and sometimes it may be as long as the Rod or near it 19. I have often for Ground Angle made my links of three Hairs to consist of two hairs of a sorrel or chesnut colour and one of white sometimes 2 white hairs and one of Chesnut or sorrel colour and do like it very well 20. At the bottom of every line have a small water noose or loop that you may hang a Hook of any size whipt to a line consisting of two or three links or change your Hook and two or three lowermost links as you please If it be a line of one hair next Hook let the noose be at a link of 3 hairs if a line for 3 hairs next Hook let the water noose be at a link consisting of 4 hairs I have been the more precise in describing the Lines because many Anglers understand them not and to their prejudice are not a little careless therein Trowling Line 21. Let the Trowling line be made of 4 or 6 fold of Hemp Yarn finely spun of the best Hemp and let the folds be neatly twisted together its length should be 15 or 16 yards and have also 2 yards next the hook of strong silk and neatly made CHAP. III. Of Hooks Floats Leading Lines Plums and the rest of the Anglers Tackle THE best Hooks are made by one Mr. Denton that lives about Barnsley in York shire and by John Perkin and William Perkin that live in Sadleworth in York-shire which 3 persons are very excellent Trout Anglers Hooks The Wyer of the Hooks should be small and such as will not stretch the points so well temperd that they will not become dull with Fishing but still preserve their keeness all which Dentons Hooks will perform The London Hooks are of too thick a wyer and of a compass that may suit a River abounding with Weeds by reason of their compass or bent they may more easily be loosed when entangled with Weeds which is all they are good for I totally reject them in fishing with Dub-fly or in stoney Rivers by reason they will quickly become dull 2. Let the Hooks be long in the shank and of a compass somewhat enclining to roundness but the point must stand even and straight and the bending must be in the shank for if the shank be straight the point will hang outward though when set on it stand right yet it will after the taking of a few Fish cause the hair at the end of the shank to stand bent and consequently the point of the Hook to hang directly upwards 3. Whether you Angle at top or bottom proportion your Hooks for strength and compass to the number of the Hair or Hairs you Angle with next Hook Whipping Hooks 4. When you set on the Hook which is stiled arming fixing or whipping of Hooks do it with small but strong silk well rubbed with Shoomakers Wax and lay your hair on the inside of the Hook for if on the outside the silk will cut and fret it asunder and it is not so apt to strike Fish and to avoid the fretting of the hair by the hook on the inside smooth all the hook on a whetstone from the inside to the back of the hook sloop-ways and from a straws bredth below the top of the hook wrap the silk about the bare hook until you come to the top of the shank then lay your line on the inside and whip with your silk downwards until you arrive almost at the bent of the hook and then cut off the end of the Gildard and faffen Whip your hooks for Angling with Worm with red colored silk but for paste cod-bait and other whitish baits with white colored silk and some do it with a white or red hair and some with flax or hemp but strong and small silk I like best How to arm a bristled hook you will see hereafter when we discourse of Cod-baits Proportion of Hooks Hooks for Dub-sly generally should be small so for Cod bait but larger for worm yet I like not Angling at worm with so large a hook as some do Floats 5. Floats should evermore be of Cork for Rivers but quill and Pens are best for Pits Ponds and standing waters being not able to bear the strong streams in Rivers and Angling near top in very flow Rivers and especially with Paste or tender Baits 6. Obtain the best Cork you can without Flaws or holes bore the Cork through with a small hot Iron then put into it a quill of a fit proportion neither too large to split it or so small to slip out but as it may stick in very closely then pare either with a sharp Pen-knife or Rasor the Cork into the form of a Pyramid small Pear Egg or Nutmeg and into what bigness you please then upon a small Grindstone or with a Putnice stone make it compleat for you cannot pare it so smooth as you may grind it have Corks of all sizes 7. After you have shaped your Cork bore with a small hot Iron a hole from end to end through the midst thereof into that hole thrust a quill and cut the Quill off even with the Cork at each End and through the Quil draw the line and fasten them both together with a wedg of the uppermost hard end of the Goose Quil the feather being stript off let the Wedge be two inches long and white which will be best discernable then place the smaller end of the Cork towards the hook and the bigger towards the rod that the smaller end sucking down with the hook the bigger may float aloft and bear the Wedg directly erect which when pull'd under the furface of the Water is the certain signal of the fishes biting unless by accident the hook or line become entangled or stayed by some stone piece of wood or weeds 8. Cork in form of a Nutmeg or Egg being biggest in the middest and small at each end is a little apter to sink and will not carry so weighty a plum of Lead yet on clear bottoms and Angling with bait some distance from ground in flow Rivers it will do very well and better than others 9. Furnish your self with Corks and Quills of all
best and neatliest spun Hemp Yarn and curiously twisted 16 yards long your hook double and strongly armed with Wire for above a foot How to bait the Pike hook then with a Probe or Needle you must draw the wire in at the Fishes mouth and out at his tail that so the hook may lye in the mouth of the Fish and both the points on either side upon the shank of the hook fasten some Lead very smooth that it go into the Fishes mouth and sink her with the head downwards as though she had been playing on the top of the water and were returning to the bottom your bait may be Gudgeon Menow small Trout small Roch or Dace small Salmon smelts Perch his upper most back-fins cut off Loach or sometimes a Frog your hook thus baited you must tye the tail of the Fish close and fast to the Wire or else with drawing to and again the Fish will rend off the hook or which is neater with a Needle and strong Thread stitch through the Fish on either side of the Wire and tie it very fast How to Troul All being thus fitted cast your Fish up and down in such places as you know Pike frequents observing still that he sink some depth before you pull him up again when the Pike cometh if it be not sunk deep you may see the water move at least you may feel him then slack your line and give him length enouâ—h to run away to his Hold whether he 'l go directly and there pouch it ever beginning as you may perceive with the head swallowing that first thus let him lie until you see the line move in the water and then you may certainly conclude he hath pouched the bait and ranged abroad for more then with the Trowl wind up your Line which should always be 16 or 18 yards long at least till you think you have it almost streight then with a smart jerk hook him and make your pleasure to your content Some use no Rod at all but holding the Line on links on their hand using Lead and Float Others use a very great Hook with the Hook at the tail of the Fish and when the Pike cometh they strike at the first pull Others use to put a strong String or Thread in at the month of the bait and out at one of the gills and so over the head and in at the other gills and so tye the bait to the hook leaving a little length of Thread or String betwixt the Fish and Hook that so the Pike may turn the head of the bait the better to swallow it and then as before after some pause strike Some use to tie the bait hook and line to a bladder or bundle of Flags or Bullrushes fastning the line very gently in the cleft of a small stick to hold the bait from sinking more than its allowed length half a yard and the stick must be fastned to the Bladder or flags to which the Line being tied that it might easily unfold and run to its length and so give the Pike liberty to run away with the bait and by the Bladder or Flags recover their Line again you must observe this way to turn off your Bait with the Wind or Stream that they may carry it away or some use for more sport if the Pike be a great one and in a Pond to tie the same to the foot of a Goose which the Pike if large will sometimes pull under water Angling for Pike at Snap When you Fish for the Pike at Snap you must give him leave to run a little then strike but be sure strike the contrary way to that which he runneth a double Spring hook is principally if not only useful in this way of Angling and much to be preferred before all other hooks for the Pike will usually hold the bait so fast in his Teeth that you may fail to pull it out of his mouth and also strike him whereas with a Spring hook though he hold it never so fast the Wire will draw through the bait and so the Spring will open and you will very frequently hook him on the out-side of his mouth Angling with the Trowl is a furer at least a more easy way for a Learner to practise who wants an instructer than the Snap besides the Snap is chiefly useful to take a Pike which often pricking with the Trowl hath made wary and cunning for one that hath not been scared will swallow the bait boldly such an one is taken best at Snap How to bait for the Snap In this way of Angling put on your bait thus make a hole with the point of your Hook or Probe in the Fishes side as near the middle as you can put in your armed wire and draw it out at the mouth and with a Needle and Thread sew up the Fishes mouth Others use the Probe to draw the arming wire under the skin only not the Ribs by any means and out at the bone behind the gills then again under the gills our at the mouth this latter way is much better because there is only the skin to hinder the drawing and piercing of the hook whereas the former way if the Pike hold fast as commonly he doth all the Flesh on the out-fide of the Fish will be drawn into a heap or lump so thick that the hook except very large can hardâ—y reach through it to pierce the Pikes chaps Rules for Pike Angling 1. After he hath taken your bait if he move slowly and make no stop give him time â—nd you 'l seldom miss him 2. Or if he lie after he hath taken the bait as sometimes he will gently move your and to try which way his head lieth if you annot discover that then strike directly upâ—ards otherwise you may instead of hookâ—ng him pluck the bait out of his mouth 3. If he take it upon the top of the water â—nd lie still you see which way his head lieth â—nd may order your self accordingly 4. At the Snap your Tackle must be stronger than for the Trowl in regard you must strike much more forcibly 5. At Snap you must give 2 lusty Jerks one after the other and be sure you ever strike contrary to the way his head lieth lest you pull the bait from him only 6. Fasten your swivel to the end of your Line and hook your armed Wire upon the Swivel 7. For the Snap cast a piece of lead hollow and so wide as to go over the wire and the end of the hook which you draw within the Fâ—shes mouth let it lie there to sink his head downwards make it so rough that it slip not out or sew up the Fishes mouth which is better than to place the Lead upon the Line as some use for the Lead will often slip further and also entangle the bait and line together 8. Both at Snap and with Trowl cut away one of the Fins close at the gills and also behind
sizes and let the Cork be so poised with Lead on the Line that the Quill which is in it being almost 2 inches long will swim upright and so equally ballanced with the Lead that the least bite or nibble will sink the Cork Leading Lines 10. For leading Lines I account the small round pellet or Lead-shot best especially for stony Rivers and running Line let it be cloven and neatly closed about your Line and let not above two plumbs be on the Line at once an inch and a half or two inches distant from each other and the lowmost plumb 9 inches distant from the Hook for a running Line either in a clear or muddy water but a foot of hook for a float line but if the River run on a sandy bottom and be full of Wood with few Stones Plumbs or Lead in shape of a Diamond or of a Barley Corn or of an Oval form is best the ends smooth and close laid down either for a muddy water or float Angling many when they Angle amongst weeds place their Lead on the shank of the hook and conceive it not so apt to entangle on them 11. When you Angle with the running line let the line have as much Lead as will fit the Stream and River in which you Angle and no more viz. more in a great trouble some water than in a smaller that is quieter as near as may be so much as will sink the Bait to the bottom and will keep it still in motion and no more This Rule is also to be observed in float Angling in Rivers Some cover their Lead on float Line with Shoo-makers Wax as thin as may be 12. As the day encreases your pellet or plumb may be lesser for that will carry readily at 5 a Clock in the morning at running line which will sink and fasten the Line at 9 a Clock for in droughts Rivers generally abate as heat encreases Lead Plummet 13. In a Pistol Bullet make a hole through it and put therein a strong Thread twisted and when occasion is hang this on the hook to try the depth of the River or Pond especially when you Angle with the float and the Bait is to be near the bottom or but just touch it Whetstone 14. Procure a little Whet-stone about two inches long one quarter of an inch square which is far better to whet or sharpen Hooks on than a File though never so fine or good for it either will not touch a well-temper'd hook or leave it rough but not sharp and we always to avoid the fretting of the hair by the Hook smooth all the Hook upon a Whetstone from the inside to the back of the Hook slope-ways 15. Get a Case made of red Leather like a Comb Case with 12 or 14 partitions therein made of the finest thin Parchment with a flap to cover over the edges to prevent loosing any thing out of them in the several partitions keep Hooks ready whipt to Lines of 2 or 3 gildards in length and leaded likewise spare links lines of all sorts silk of all sorts and colours hair and single strong hairs hooks These Cases contain much and lye in a small room in the Pocket in one of these Cases you may put all your tackle ready fixt for the running line in muddy and clear water in another all the tackle for the ground Angling with sloat in another the Angling tackle for great Fish as Chub Barbel great Salmon in another which must be made large your Angling tackle for Pike so that when you Travel from home you may Angle any where for most sorts of Fish at ground if you carry but a good Rod with you made of Hazel and the pieces put into each other and will serve for a walking staff which you may buy ready made in London and other places How to keep Cod-baits c. 16. Bags of Linnen and Woollen to keep and carry all sorts of Baits in also a piece of Cane with holes bored therein to keep Catterpillars Palmers Woolbeds natural Flies and Bobs in a Horn for Gentles Boxes of divers fizes to carry Hooks Silk Lead Thread Corks floats of Quills Shoo-makers Wax Dub-flies and also have a sharp Pen Knife The following way is esteemed a Secret and the best way to carry and keep Cod-baits Catterpillars Clap-bait natural Flies and Oak-worm in for to give Cod-baits water is soon to rot them because they are as well kept in a piece of withy Bark that some of them will live therein to be turned to Flies 't is thus Cut a round bough of fine green barkt Withy about the thickness of half ones Arm and taking the Bark clear off about a foot in length turn both ends together from the middle and let them enfold within each other and then tie it with a string on the top and stop it with a Cork or piece of Stick in this put the aforesaid Baits and every Night lay it in the Grass and use it next day or let it lie until you have occasion for them the Dew preserves them and makes them scour and thrive thus you may keep Cod-baits Grasshopers c. for the moisture of the Bark contributes much to their preservation but bore small holes in it for their better respiration notwithstanding the Bark is very porous Landing Net 17. Have a small long Pole made with a loop at the end like a water-noose to which fasten a small Net to Land great Fish without which you will be in danger to loose them but if you Angle for Pike Barbel Chevin get a large Hook called a Landing Hook with a serew at the end to skrew into a socket sixed at the end of a long Pole to strike into the mouth or any part of the Fish to draw them to Land You may also fit to the same socket and pole 2 other hooks one sharp to cut Weeds away the other to pull out Wood. Panier 18. Let the Panier be light made of peel'd Willow Twigs neatly wrought Materials for the Angler to carry with him 19. Carry with you all sorts of Hooks Lines Links ready twisted Hair Silk of divers colours small but strong Thread Leads Plumets Floats of all sorts and sizes Shoo-makers Wax Pen-knife Whet-stone Line Cases Worm-bags Boxes Hooks ready fixt to Lines of 2 or 3 gildards or lengths Rod Baits Flies Panier Dubbing bag Horn for Gentles a small but sharp pair of Scissors CHAP. IV. Of BAITS 1. HAving instructed our Angler with what Tackle to be accoutred the next Discourse directs him how to find order manage keep and preserve all sorts of natural Baits First he is to observe that Earth worms are a general Bait for all sorts of Fish whatsoever and that they and Gentles continue in season the whole Year the Earth-bob from Martynmas until almost May-day and the Cowturd-bob from May-day until Michaelmas Flies Palmers or Wool-beds Catterpillars Cod-bait Worms bred on Herbs or Trees as the Oak-worm c. all Summer and know
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
Surfeit on them their best season is Winter although they be always very good Baits 3. Best baits are the Dew-worm Red-worm and Lamprey that 's very small Menow Loach 〈◊〉 very small Gudgeon and small Roch a Hen â—r Chickens Gut the Dew-worm Red-worm â—nd small Lamprey are proper for him either 〈◊〉 the day or night but the rest are to be used with night-hooks only as also is Beef or Horse-flesh and sometimes in the day time an Eeâ— will take the young brood of Wasps Ways of catching Eels 4. He 's caught in the day time by a ledgeâ— bait by singling or brogling and bobbing anâ— by night with laying of night-hooks Singling or brogling for Eels 5. Brogling or Singling is thus performed get an exceeding strong and long line and 〈◊〉 small compassed Hook baited with a well scoâ—red red worm hold one end of the line in youâ— hand then place the upper end of your hooâ— very easily in the cleft of a long Hasle stick thaâ— it may easily slip out With this stick and hooâ— thus baited search for holes under Stone Timber Roots or about Floodgates or Weirâ— and put the bait leasurely therein If there 〈◊〉 a good Eel give her time and she 'll take it bâ—â— be sure she hath swallowed it then very lâ—â—â— surely draw her out Bobbing for Eels 6. Bobbing for Eels is thus Take the laâ—gest Garden worms well scowred and with Needle run a strong Thread through the from end to end take and use so many as last you may wrap them slackly about your hand a dozen times at least then tye them fast with the two ends of the thread that they may hang in so many long boughts or hanks then fasten all to a small strong Cord and something more than a handful above the Worms tye the Cord on a knot then get a Lead Plumb 3 quarters of a pound weight shaped like a Pyramid and bore a hole through the middle of this Lead from end to end The knot on the Cord should be about 6 inches distant from the Worms so as the Cord may easily pass to and fro then put the upper end of the Cord through the Plumb the thicker end of the Plumb being downwards and let the Plumb rest on the knot above the Worms then six the upper end of the Cord which should not be above 2 yards long to a strong and long Pole Thus prepared Angle in a muddy water and you 'l feel Eels tug strongâ—y at them when you think they have swallowed them as far as they can gently draw up your Worms and Eels and when you have them near top of the water hoise them amain to Land and thus you may take 3 or 4 at once and good ones too if store there be These 2 ways of Singling and Bobbing are proper only to Eels no other Fish being to be caught so CHAP. XXIII Observations on the Pike Nature of Pike 1. HE 's a better Fish than the Carp but a great devourer of other Fish whereby he acquires the name of Fresh Water Tyrant or Wolf He 's long lived as to live 20 or 30 years others say but 10 the Eel and Carp are better for Age so is not the Pike the middle size are best his bites are venomous he always swims by himself and not in company he breeds but once a year and that in February or March he 's a bold and greedy biter and is not afraid of a shadow or seeing people His Haunt 2. He loves sandy or clay bottoms still Pools full of fry and shelters the better to surprise his Prey unawares himself amongst Bulrushes Water Docks or Bushes and often he bites about the middle of the River and always about mid water the bait generally being in a continual gentle motion Biting-time 3. In April May June and beginning of July he bites best early in the morning and late in the evening and seldom to any purpose in the night of all the year at 3 a Clock in the afternoon in July August September and October in a clear water and a gentle Gale in still places or a gentle Stream In September and all Winter months he bites all the day long especially about 3 in the afternoon the water being clear the day windy Baits 4. He takes all sort of baits except Fly but his principal baits are Gudgeons Roches Daces Menows Loaches young Frogs and Salmon smelts that are small fresh sweet and well fastned on the hook for they are very tender so is a young Trout young Jack Pearch his â—ack Fins cut off and a piece of an Eel good â—aits likewise for the Pike 5. He 's caught 4 manner of ways viz. by a Ledger bait by Snap Snare and Trowling of all which you 'l see hereafter in this book â—ut however procure some Angler the first â—ime you Angle to accompany and shew you he way CHAP. XXIV Observations on the Flook or Flounder FLOOK or Flounder is a Sea Fish which wanders far into fresh Rivers and there dwells and loses himself thriving to an hands bredth and almost twice so long is a pleasant Fish and makes the Angler great Pastime and although greedy biters yet crafty for they will nibble and suck at a bait some time before they swallow it and if they perceive the hook fly from it therefore let your bait be alway in motion and it will make them more eager they commonly lie in the deepest and stillesâ— place of the River and near the bank and iâ— a gentle Stream that is brackish His best baiâ— are small red-worm and especially the Meadow or Marsh-worm well scowred your baiâ— touching the ground and the young brood 〈◊〉 Wasps CHAP. XXV Observations on the Bleak BLeak is no wholsom Fish because in Summer they go mad by reason of a Worm in their Stomachs but the Sea-bleak is a good Fish He 's a very eager bitor and you may Angle for him with as many hooks on your line as you can conveniently fasten on it He takes Gentles the best and likewise the same baits that Roch does but they must be lesser also the Dub-fly which should be of a very sad brown colour and small and the hook so too he 's caught at mid-water or top he is almost always in motion The Variatae or Sea-bleak thanges its colour with every Light and Object having firm and wholsom Flesh and is as good as any Carp and it s called the Sea-Camelion CHAP. XXVI Observations on the Menow Loach and Bullhead or Millers Thumb Menow THese Fish are of little consideration only sometimes they are caught to make baits on for other Fish else they are only Women and Childrens Sport The Minnow appears first in March and continues until Michaelmas and then betakes himself to the mud weeds or wood in Rivers to secure himself from Floods devouring Trouts and other Fishes of Prey He least frequents deep still places or holes where Trouts or great Fish ply neither stirs in
Note that the longer you permit hair to be in it it will be deeper colored Some put in the hair while the liquor is hot but I doubt that weakens the hair and indeed so I think does any dying How to order choose and keep hair 5. When you get any good hair immediately steep it 12 hours in cold Spring Water then wash and rince it very well from dirt without straining any hairs then hang it up to dry 3 or 4 daies in a Kitching but far off from the Fire when perfectly dry put it in a bag or case made of Parchment or Paper which lay in a box or desk plac'd in a upper room How to make Lines 6. When you make Lines especially 4 or 5 of the lowermost links lengths gildards or toughts for they are stiled by all these name in different places let them be of the best hairs and choose out of the hair such as are of equal bigness even round clear free from galls scabs and frets for such a hair will prove as strong as three uneven scabby hairs that are ill chosen and full of galls or unevenness for such commonly stretch altogether or break altogether which hairs of an unequal bigness never do but break singly and betray the Angler that relies on them therefore where you get good Hair be choice and sparing of it and you may make the top of your line and indeed all the line except two yards next the hook of a courser hair 7. Never strain or stretch hairs before they be made into a line as some do for then they will shrink when used the strongest and best are easily elected by the Eye 8. To make the line handsom and to twist the hair even and neat gives it strength for if one hair be long and another short the short one receives no strength from the long one and so breaketh and then the other as too weak breaketh also therefore twist them slowly and in twisting keep them from entangling together which hinders their right pleighting or bedding together and twist the hairs neither too hard nor too slack but even so as they may twind and couch close one within another and no more without either snarling or gaping one from another your links may be tyed to each other with a Fishers knot or as some call it a waterknot which any Angler will teach you to make the mixing hair and silk I esteem no wayes advantagious to lines 9. When you have twisted your links lay them in cold water for one hour then twist them over again before you tye them into a line otherwise a hair or two will shrink and be shorter than the rest at first fishing with it which is so much of the strength of the line lost for want of first watering and then twisting it 10. Do not arm six or whip Hooks to any Line either for ground or fly Angling that consists of more than three or four links at the most but if the hair be long and the lowermost link consists of three hairs then you may whip to one that consists of two links only the top of the uppermost link having a small water noose or loop you may to any line put the same and as easily remove it Length of Dub-fly Line 11. Your Line for Dub-fly Cast-fly or Artificial-fly which are all one and the same should be almost twice the length of the Rod if the River be not encumbred with wood or trees on its Banks if so let it be shorter but longer than the Rod and let the hair be a white or a darkish white colour Thickness of Cast-fly Lines 12. To Angle for Trouts Graylings and Salmon-Smelts no bigger than a very large Gudgeon with the Dub-fly let the two first links next hook be but of one hair a peice but the hair must be strong and of the thicker ends only and chosen for the purpose the next link of two hairs and next to that must consist of three hairs at top whereof have a water noose or loop to put to your line whose low'rmost link consists of three hairs and has another Water-noose at bottom to six your fly of three or four links too then let your next link of your line be four hairs and so proceed by encreasing one hair until you come to six or seven hairs at the top let the single hair and the two next links be of a white or darkish white or rather a white blew colour 13. But many think this too small especially where there are very large Trouts and therefore for Cast-fly Angling constantly advise two of the first link next Hook to be of two hairs a piece the next above them of three hairs to which have a water noose then two or three hairs a piece and then proceed with four five and six to the topmost 14. Others there are and good Anglers too that advise the two links next Hook to consist of three hairs a piece then one of four at top whereof to have a water noose then four five six and seven to the topmost link which I like very well if the River abound with large Trouts and the water either be clearing after Rain or be very full or swelled more than usually Now since you have all directed make choice according to your skill practice and dexterity most when they Angle with three hairs next Hook make a water noose on the top of the second link Your Lines thus made will cause the Rod and Line to be in a manner taper from the very hand to the Hook and the line to fall much better and streighter and cast your fly or bait to any certain place your Hand and Eye shall direct with less weight and violence that would otherwise circle the water and fright away Fish Length and thickness of a line for running worm in a clear water 15. Anglers differ in opinion about the length of Running worm line in a clear water for Trouts or Graylings some would have it longer than rod others length of rod and a third sort a yard shorter than rod which I by my own Experience best approve of although each of these lengths of line may in some Rivers and seasons be more proper than other as the line longer than rod when the water is exceeding bright and low is best for thickness let the 2 or 3 lowermost links or lengths be of one hair a piece Vide Sect 12. of this Chapter and then proceed as is before directed for cast line but let no part of this line be above 4 hairs in thickness in any one link Let the Colour of the hair be a white blew color or a white dusky color not perfectly white Length and thickness of Running line for mud water 16. Let the Line for running worm in muddy water the 3 lowermost links at least be of Chesnut or Sorrel colour and from hook upward the thickness of the line before directed at the 14 Section of this
have been kept three weeks or you may put them in an earthen Pot full of water with some Gravel at the bottom and take them forth into your bag as you use them but the best way of keeping them is as before is directed at cap. 3. sect 16. Various ways of Angling with the Cod-bait 13. One may Angle several ways with Cod-baits either at bottom with a float or within a foot of the bottom at mid-water or at top but if in a clear water for the Trout or Grayling use fine and smallest Lines almost length of Rod and very light Leaded if within water Sometimes you may when you use a float put on 2 or 3 together and sometimes Cod-bait to very great effect is joyned with a Worm and sometimes to an Artificial Fly to cover the point of the Hook sometimes it s put on the point of the Hook after an Oak fly and then they dib with it or which I like better to let them sink 9 or 10 inches within the water continually raising and gently moving it And some say Cod-balt when used by it self is always to be Angled with at the bottom and with the finest tackle and that it is for all times of the Year the most holding Bait of all other whatever both for Trout and Grayling Others there are that affirm The best way to Angle with Codbait is to Fish with it on the top of the water for Trout or Grayling as you do with the Fly and it must stand on the shank of the Hook as doth the Artificial Fly for if it come into the bent of the Hook the Fish will little or not at all value it nor if you pull the blew gut out of it and to make it keep that place This is called a bristled hook when thus armed or whipt you must when you set on or whip your Hook fasten a stiff Horse hair or Hogs Bristle under the Silk with the end standing out about a Straws breadth at the head of the hook from under the silk and pointing towards the Line and this will keep it either from stipping totally off and from fliding back into the bent of the hook by which means your Whipping would be left naked and bare and is neither so sightly nor so likely to be taken to remedy which because it often so falls out some always whip the Hook they design for this Bait with the whitest Horse hair which it self will resemble and shine like that bait and consequently do more good or less harm than whipping with Silk or any other colour Thus used its an excellent bait for a Trout You may if you please place a small slender Lead upon the shank of the Hook to sink the bait and draw the Codbait over the Lead Artificial Codbait You may make for Trouts and Salmon smelts an Artificial or Counterfeit Cod-bait by making the body of yellow Bee Wax and the head of black Silk and a little dubbing black This you must be often raising from the bottom and let it sink again or you may do it by making the body of yellow Wash-Leather or rather Shammy or Buff and the head of black Silk In a muddy water Trouts will not take the Codbait therefore only Angle with them in clear waters Codbait is a very excellent Bait both for Trout and Grayling and likewise for other Fish as Chub Roch Dace Salmon smelts Pearch Carp Tench and Bleak Some persons make the counterfeit Cod-bait of yellow Bees-Wax and an artificial dubb'd head and a pair of wings at the head and Angle therewith as at dub-fly if you imitate the Cod-bait with yellow Bee-Wax and make the head of black dubbing and black silk and perform the same very artificially it s an incomparable Bait for Trouts and Salmon smelts some make use of a piece of a small yellow Wax Candle to imitate the Cod-bait and put a dubt head and wings on top of the Hook Bark-worm or Ash-grub 14. Are all one and the same and is plump milk-white bent round from head to tail and exceeding tender with a red head resembling a young Dore or Humble Bee it s in season all the year especially from Michaelmas until mid May or June It s the most proper Bait save any but the Fly and Cod-bait for the Grayling but Chub Roch and Dace will likewise take it It s found under the Bark of an Oak Ash Alder or Birch especially if they lye a year or more after they are fallen likewise it s found in the body of a rotted Alder if you break it with an Ax but be careful only to shake the Tree in pieces with beating and crush not the Worm you may also find it under the Bark of the Stump of a Tree if decayed He is very tender therefore to be baited on such a bristled hook as before is directed for the Cod-bait and hee 's to be baited thus viz. the hook is to be put in under the head or chaps of the bait and guided down the middle of the belly without sustering it to peep out by the way for then it will issue out water and milk till nothing but the skin remain and the bent of the Hook will appear black through it till the point of the hook come so low that the head of the bait may rest and stick on the bristle that comes out to hold it by which means it can neither slip of it self neither will the force of the Stream nor quick pulling out on any mistake strip it off This bait is usually kept in bran and thereby grows tougher For Grayling you are to Angle with this bait with the smallest Lines How to Angle for a Grayling with an Ash-grith such as is directed for a Trout with a running line in a clear water and you are always to use a small Float and the least weight of plumb or Lead you can that will but sink and that the swiftness of the Stream will allow and your Bait is always to be 5 or 6 inches from the bottom but for other Fish as Chub Roch Dace you may use Lines and Tackle proper for them and Angle as is suitable for their humor Flag-worm or Dock-worm 15. Are all one to find them do thus Go to an old Pond or Pit where there are store of Flags or as some call them Sedges pull some up by the roots then shake those roots in the water till all the mud and dirt be washed away from them then amongst the small strings or fibres that grow to the roots you 'l sind little husks or cases of a reddish or yellowish and some of other colours open these carefully with a Pin and you 'l find in them a little small Worm pale yellow or white as a Gentle but longer and flenderer with rows of feet all down his belly and a red head This is an exceeding good bait for Grayling and likewise for Tench Bream and Carp If you pull the Flags in sunder
well together and press the Juyce thereout and wet your Moss therewith and when you Angle put 6 or 8 Worms therein out of the other Worm-bag and when spent by fishing do the like 13. Some use the Juyce of Netles and Housleek as the last and some only the Juyce of Housleek 14. Some anoint their bait with the Marrow got out of a Herons Thigh-bone 15. Take the Bones or Scull of a Dead-man at the opening of a Grave and beat the same into pouder and put of this pouder in the Moss wherein you keep your Worms but others like Grave Earth as well CHAP. VII General Directions and Observations LET the Anglers Apparrel not be of a light shining or glittering colour which will reflect upon the water and affright away the Fish but let it be of a sad dark colour and close to his body for Fish are affrighted with any the least sight or motion therefore by all means keep out of sight when you Angle in a cleer water either by sheltring behind some Bush or Tree or by standing as far off the Rivers side you can possible to effect this the better a long Rod at ground and a long Rod and line at artificial Fly are absolutely necessary Neither ought you to jump on the banks next the water you Angle in for of all Creatures there is none more sharp sighted or fearful than Fish especially Trouts Chubs and Carp 2. When you Angle at Ground in a cleer Water or dibble with natural Flies Angle going up the River but in a muddy water or with Dub-fly Angle going down the River 3. Before you set out to Angle see that your haits be good sweet fine and agreeable to the River and Season and likewise your Tackle suitable for if otherwise you had better stay at home 4. Use Shoomakers wax to the Tread or Silk with which you make or mend either Rod or Fly for it holds more firmly and sticks better then any other 5. When you have hooked a good Fish have an especial care to keep the Rod bent least he run to the end of the Line and break either Hook or Hold. 6. Angle for all sort of Fish whatever in that part of the River where his haunt is described to be Fishes general Haunt 7. Where any Weeds Roots of Trees Stones Wood or other rubbish it s often good but very troublesom Angling for to such places Fishes resort for warmth and security so likewise in Whirl-pools for they are like pits in Rivers and are seldom unfirnished of good Fish likewise at Weirs Mill-streams piles posts and pillars of Bridges Flood-gates Cataracts and Falls of Waters the Eddies betwixt two Streams the returns of a Stream and the side of a Stream are good places generally to Angle in and in Summer all Fish generally lay in the more shallow part of the River or in a strong swift or gentle stream except Carp Tench and Eel in Winter all fly into the deep still places where it ebbeth and floweth Fish sometimes bite best in the Ebb most usually sometimes when it floweth rarely at full water near the Arches of bridges Weirs or Floot-Gates 8. When any Fish have taken the Hook from you if it be not swallowed into their Gorge they will live either the water will cause it to rust and in time wear away or the Fish will go to the bottom and there root like a Hog on the Gravel till they either rub it out or break the Hook in the middle How to feed Fish 9. Into such places as you use to Angle once a Week at least cast in all sorts of Corn boyled soft grains steeped in blood blood dryed and cut into pieces Snails Worms chopt into peices peices of Fowl or Beasts Guts Beasts Livers Cheese chewed especially for Carp Tench Chub Roch Dace Barbel and Bream you cannot feed too often or too much this course draweth the Fish to the place you desire and there keeps them together cast in about twenty Grains of ground Malt or Beans ground now and then as you Angle or chewed Oat-Cake or Cheese but by no means when you Angle in a stream cast them in at your Hook but something above where you Angle least the stream carry them beyond the Hook and so instead of drawing them to you you draw them beyond you 10. If you Angle at any place you have twice or thrice baited and find no sport if none has been there before you or no grand Impediment in the Season or Water appear be assured Pike or Pearch if they breed in that River have there taken up their quarters and affright all other Fish thence for fear of being made a prey your only remedy is presently to Angle for them with suitable Tackle and baits and when they are caught the others will repossess themselves of their former station To know what Bait and Fly Fish take 11. The first Fish you catch rip up his belly and you may then see his Stomach it s known by its largeness and place lying from the Gills to the small Guts take it out very tenderly if you bruise it your labour is lost and with a sharp Pen knife cut it open without bruising and then you 'l find his Food in it and thereby discover what bait at that instant the Fish take best Flyes or Ground-baits and so fit them accordingly and if you have a magnifying Glass you may with some pleasure to you easily discover the very true colour of the Fly and some can do it pretty well without a Glass 12. Keep the Sun and Moon if Night before you if your eyes will endure it at least be sure to have these Planets on your side for if they be on your back both your self and Rod will with its shadow oftend much and the Fish see further and clearer when they look towards those Lights then the contrary as you may experiment thus in a dark night if a man come between you and any Light you see him clearly but not at all if the Light come betwixt you and him 13. All Fish whatever that swim in Rivers are wholesomer pleasanter and far better tasted than those of the same kind that live in Pits Ponds Mears and standing waters 14. A Hog back and a little head either to Trout Salmon or any other Fish are a sign they are in Season 15. Let all baits and Flyes whatsoever fall gently first into the Water before any other part of the Line and with as little of the Line as possible and without any distubance plunging or circling of the water which mightily scares Fish 16. Some Fish are said to be Leather mouthed that is their mouths are so tough that if they once be hooked they seldom break the hold such are the Chub Barbel Carp Tench Roch and Gudgeon But the Pike Salmon Pearch Grayling Trout and Bream are very tender mouthed and their hold often breaks after they are hooked 17. Roch and Dace or Dare recover
deeper body then Male the best are usually red or yellow and some white yet good but those rarely sound some Soils nourâ—sh them better than others for in the same River you shall in one Field catch one lank lean and with a great Head and in the next Field one full thick lusty fat and with a small Head they dye quickly after taken but the Eel Carp and Tench live long out of their proper Element they and Salmons will miraculously pass thorough and over Weares Wood-gates small Cataracts and Fish garths they are a greedy devouring and ravenous Fish and in their season nimble quick and strives long and vigorously for their lives and will run among roots weeds or any thing to entangle the Line or break it and when struck will endeavour to run to the end of the Line they like a large Bait at ground and his ground-bait must drag on the ground flyes they take most at top of the water or within 3 or 4 inches of it with Minnow or Loach he 's caught within a foot off the surface of the Water and sometimes lower by trouling they are no long-lived Fish at full growth they decline in body and grow in the Head until death Baits for the Trout 4. Principal Baits for Trouts at the ground are Worm Brandlings Giltails Tag-tail Meadow and Red-Worm but for a mighty Trout the Dew-Worm the two first are the principal Worms for him all the year both in clear and muddy waters the others for waters discoloured with Rain then a Cod-bait which is either for top or bottom so is the Clap-bait and the Water-cricket he takes the Palmer-fly or Wool-bed and all sorts of Flyes both natural and artificial at top of the Water especially the Palmer-fly Water-cricket stone-fly green Drake and Ash-fly he will likewise take a Cod-bait and Clap-bait that are Counterfeited with yellow Wax Shammy or Buss as before is directed sometimes he takes the Oak-worm and Haw-thorn-worm at top of the Water The Menow Bull-head his Guil Finns cut off and the Loach especially are excellent baits in a cleer water for great Trouts in March April and September about midwater to troul with in the Streams or on Windy days in the deep He will also take all sorts of Bobs Palmers Caterpillars Gentles Dores the young brood of Wasps young Humble-bees Hornets Beetles their Legs and uppermost Wings cut off and Grass hoppers his Leggs and outmost Wings cut likewise off as the Brandling Giltail Tag-tail Meadow-worm Red-worm and Dew-worm are the best Worms for the ground Angle to be suited respectively to the Temperature and colour of the River although the Brandling and Giltail are for either muddy or cleer waters and perhaps the best so is the Cod-bait Clap-bait Water-Cricket Palmer-worm stone-Fly Green-Drake Oak-Fly and Artisicial Fly the best for the Trout at the top of the Water when cleer Dibble with the Water-Cricket Stone-Fly Green-Drake Grass-hopper and Sharn-bud as they severally come in Season dib also with the Oak-fly and a Cod-bait at point of the Hook and let them sink half a foot or a foot within water and its a dead bait for a Trout also a Clap-bait and artificial Head and Wings with a bristled Hook as Cod-bait is used is excellent for top Of each of these particular Baits see more in the Chapter of Baits The ways to Angle for them 5. The way to Angle for Trout at ground is with the running line without any float or he 's caught by Float-Angling at ground at mid-water by Trowling at top of the water by dibbing and the cast-fly of all which ways see more hereafter Biting time 6. A Trout bites best in a muddy rising water or in a water that is clearing after a Flood or in dark cloudy or windy weather early in the morning from a little after Sun-rising till about half an hour after ten and from about two a clock in the afternoon till six and sometimes in the evening but 9 a clock in the forenoon and 3 in the afternoon are his chiefest and most constant hours of biting at Ground or Fly as the water suits either March April May and part of June are his chiefest Months tho he bites well in July August and September After a shower in the evening he rises well at Gnats When he takes Minnow and Loach Vide Antea 7. In little Brooks which fail into large Rivers where it libbs and Flows only in fresh waters or a little brackish if you begin at the mouth of such Brooks just as the Tide cometh in and goeth up the Brook with the Head of the Tide and return with the Ebbing of the water you will take good Trouts and have much sport and if the Tide do not muddy the water they will also rise at the Fly at such a time 8. Vid. Cap. 9. Sect. 12.17 and 18. 9. In small clear Brooks if you come in or immediately after a shower that hath raised the water or take it just as any Mill water beginneth to come down and so go along with the course of the water Trouts will then bite well because they expect the water will bring down food with it and they come forth to seek it but in small Brooks when the Mills stand and keep up the Water you 'l have little or no sport at ground especially and but little with Fly for the Trout at such a time is fearful and dares scarce venture out of hold 10. When you Angle for Salmon or Trout and all day long have had little or rather no sport either at ground or fly next night especially at the beginning of it and until midnight or near it they will not fail to bite either at ground or fly as the season or water suits best for either freely and eagerly if the weather be not nipping cold or frosty 11. When you Angle for Trout with fly or ground-bait you need not make above 3 or 4 tryals in one place for he will then either take it or make an offer or not stir at all 12. When Rains raise the Rivers and almost continually keep them equal with their banks or above their ordinary height Trouts leave Rivers and larger Brooks and fly into such small Brooks as scarce run at all in Summers that are dry in such Brooks Angle for them Trouts generally quit the great Rivers at Michaelmas and go into small Rills or Rivulets to Spawn and are frequently there destroyed by idle loose and disorderly fellows with groping or otherwise which does more injury to the breed of Fish than all the Summers Angling for then they take all the Spawning Trouts Thus I have known a River very plentifully stored with Trouts in 3 or 4 years utterly spoiled 13. When you Angle for Trout or Salmon with Worm or at ground let your Bait drag on the ground as little as may be but touch the ground it must especially for Trouts but Mr. Cotton advises when you Angle with a float to let the
bait be as near the bottom as you can but not drag which perhaps may do well but the experience of the running Line contradicts his Opinion for therewith the bait always drags and there is no better way at ground yet known for the catching of Trouts than the running Line Yet I confess if you Angle either with Cod-bait Clap-bait or water Cricket at Float that the bait swimming very near the bottom as may be but not touching it may do best 14. When you Angle for Trouts and only catch Minows be assured that there are no Trouts there therefore remove to another place CHAP. XI Observations on the Salmon Nature Season and Spawning time 1. THE Salmon is called the King of fresh water Fish breeds in Rivers relating to the Sea yet so high as admits of no Tincture of it they Spawn in the end of August or September having delighted himself all the Summer in the fresh water into which he comes at Spring in October he returns to the Sea where he lives till Spring and grows exceeding large but in the fresh water he only grows fat in the Summer and if about Michaelmas he chance to be stopt by Flood-gates or Weirs from going to Sea and enforced to take up his Winter quarters in the fresh water he grows sick lean unseasonable kipper insipid and tasteless and in one year pines away and Dies Their Age is about 10 years and their growth is very sudden after they get into the Sea as quickly as a Gosling becomes a Goose is about 5 months out of season after Spawning Haunts 2. Salmons love large swift Rivers where it ebbeth and floweth yet sometimes they are found in lesser Rivers high up the Country chiefly in the latter end of the year when they come thither to Spawn He likewise delights in the swist and violent Streams and the clearest gravelly Rivers usually with Rocks or Weeds He stays not long in a place as the Trout will but is ambitious still to go nearer the Spring head nor does he ly as the Trout and many other Fish do near the water side or bank or roots of Trees but swims in the deep and broad parts of the Water and usually in the middle and near the ground but the small Salmon smelts commonly lye in the rough and upper part of a gentle Stream and in the middle thereof Biting-time 3. Salmons best biting time is 9 a Clock in the forenoon and 3 in the afternoon in a clear water and when some wind bloweth against the Stream when struck he usually falleth to plunge and leap but does not ordinarily endeavour to run to the end of the Line as the Trout will young Salmons are very tender mouthed Baits 4. For a great Salmon the principal ground bait is the Dew-worm well scowred and for the small Salmon smelt about bigness of a Trout the Brandling and Gilt-tail are the best ground baits They will likewise take exceeding well the Bob of both sorts the Cod-bait and Waterlowse and the counterfeit Cod-bait also in clear water For Flyes he takes the same that the Trout generally doth whether natural or artificial but the natural bait he generally takes better than the artificial fly especially by the small ones If you put a Cod-bait or Gentle either natural or artificial but natural better at point of your dub-fly hook they will take the dub-fly better especially the Salmon smelt Flyes made for the great Salmon are better being made with 4 wings than with 2 only and with 6 better than with them of 4 and if behind each pair of Wings you place a different colour for the body of the Fly it is much the better which argues that he loves to have several Flys on the hook at once for the Fly looketh as if it were divers Flies together The Wings must be made standing one behind the other whether 4 or 6 also he delights to have both body and wings of the most gaudy colour with long wings and tails Silver twist and Gold twist are good to use in dubbing the bodies he 's caught at ground with running line or float the bait touching or as near the ground as possible and sometimes he bites well lower than mid-water at ground baits He 's caught with dub fly and the Cod-bait Clap-bait water-Cricket and the counteifeit Cod-bait at top of the water CHAP. XII Observations on the Umber or Grayling Haunt and Season 1. UMber and Grayling disser only in name they delight in marl clay clear waters swift Streams and far from the Sea Dove Trent and Derwen in the Counties of Derby and Stafford are best stored with them of any Rivers in England the biggest is not above 18 inches long they are in Season all the year but their principal Season is December at which time he 's black about head gills and down his back and has his belly of a dark grey dapled with black spots his Flesh even in his worst Season is firm and will easily calver and is excellent meat at all times but when at best little inferiour to the best Trout He 's a very nimble Fish swist swimmer but dead hearted after hooked has his Teeth in his Throat is eager and biteth freely and will often bite at the same fly if not prickt he 's tender mouth'd and often lost by breaking hold 2. When you Angle for him within water his bait by no means must drag on the ground he being a Fish that usually swims nearer the middle of the water and lies always loose and more apt to rise than descend even to a ground bait therefore let your bait be about 6 or 9 Inches from the bottom and use a float of Cork rather than a running line if you Angle particularly for this Fish but if for Trout and Grayling then a running line Baits 3. His principal ground baits are Brandling Giltail Tag-tail Cod-bait Bark-worm and Flag-worm and at top he 's taken either with the natural or artificial Palmers and Flies especially the Camlet Fly and a Fly made of light tawny hair Camlet as the Trouts are CHAP. XIII Observations on the Pearch Haunt 1. HE loves a gentle Stream of a reasonable depth seldom shallow close by a hollow bank and although Salmon Trout and Pearch delight in clear and swift Rivers stony gravelly and green weeds yet Pearches are sometimes found but not in such plenty and goodness in slow stimy and muddy Rivers as about Oxford and he frequents Creeks and hollownesses about the banks He 's a very excellent good wholesom and well casted Fish especially the River Pearch a bold biter ravenous and great devourer of other Fish of flow growth and not usually above 14 inches and oftener about 10 or under Biting-time 2. He 'l not bite at all Seasons being very abstemious in Winter only in the middle of the day as other Fishes then do he 'l then bite in Summer he biteth all the day long in cool cloudy or windy weather yet principally
the night nor in dark windy weather for fear of becoming a Prey to the Trouts and other Fish his most usual time is from an hour after Sun-rising if the day prove fair till an hour before Sun-set His baits are chiefly small Worms Giltail Brandling Cod-bait c. and is caught either at mid-water or near or close to the bottom Loach and Bulhead Loach is a pleasant Fish breeding and seeding in clear swift Brooks or Rills living in the sharpest Streams and on the Gravel and often under Stones he something resembles an Eel in shape and both Loach and Bullhead being of one nature and humour their Female are in Summer often full of Spawn they are always caught on the bottom the bait touching the ground and their best bait is the small red-worm and giltail The Menow Loach and Bullhead his Gill fins cut off are very good baits for the Trout in March April and September and for the Pike and Pearch all the year and for the Eel from March till Michaelmas to bait night hooks therewith CHAP. XXVII Various ways of Angling and of the Running Line ALL sorts of Fish take baits at the ground sometimes although all will not take the fly at top of the water and the Running Line without any float thereon is the most proper way How to Angle with the Running Line in a muddy water 1. The running Line in a muddy water or one discoloured by Rain should be half length of Rod and the two lowmost links of 3 hairs a piece then one of 4 hairs at top whereof have a loop or waternoose to put it to another link of four hairs having likewise a water-noose or loop at bottom and then proceed with 5 and 6 to the topmost the 3 lowmost gildards should be of a Sorrel Brown or Chesnut colour and have a Cane-rod with a top neither too stiff nor too slender but in a mean and 5 yards and a half long at least 2. The Line should have so much and no more Lead than will fit the water you Angle in viz. more in a great troublesom rough River than in a smaller that's quieter as near as may be so much as will sink the bait to the bottom and permit its motion without any great hesitation and in Angling carry the top or point of the Rod even with your hand gently downwards for you must begin at the head of the Stream the Lead dragging and rowling on the ground no more of the Line being in the water then will permit the Lead to touch the bottom for you must keep the Line as streight as possible yet by no means so as to raise the Lead from the ground and when they have bit you 'l both feel and perceive by the point of your Rod and Line and strike gently and streight upwards first allowing the Fish by a little flackning the Line a small time to take the bait But some strike at the first biting but that is in a clear water for Trouts or Salmon smelts which may do well Your bait should be a red-worm well scowred or which is better a Brandling or Tagtail or which I like best both a Brandling and a Giltail on the hook at same time to be baited as is hereafter directed to bait two worms to be on the hook at once and note that you are often to renew your bait and generally in a muddy water I Angle with two Worms on the hook at once as 2 Brandlings 2 Meadow-worms or a Brandling and Giltail on the hook at once when I Angle for Trouts unless I use the Dew-worm a Trout takes the bait dragging on the ground but a Grayling 9 or 12 inches from the bottom and had rather rise than descend even to a ground bait As for the Leading of the running Line with Plumbs you are before taught at chap. 3. sect 10.11 12. To bait a great Dew-Worm 3. If you Angle for a great Trout with a well scowred Dew-Worm in a muddy water or a water discoloured by Rain bait it thus viz. way to Angle for the Trout with Worm either in a muddy or clear water at ground put the hook in him towards the tail somewhat above the middle and out again a little below towards the head then draw him above the whipping or arming of the hook then put the point again into the head of the Worm till it come near the place where the point of the hook first came out then draw back that part of the Worm that was above the shank or arming of the hook and so Fish with it the Hook should be pretty large How to bait Worms 4. But if you Angle in a muddy water for Trouts of the usual size then have 2 Brandlings or two Meadow-worms or a Brandling and Giltail on the hook at once and you are to bait them thus viz. run the point of the hook in at the very head of the Brandling and so down through his body till it be past the knot and then let it out and strip the Worm above the whipping that you bruise it not with your fingers till you have put on the other by running the point of the hook in below the knor and upwards through his body towards the head till it be just covered with the head which being thus done slip the first worm over the arming again till the knots of both worms meet together Any 2 Worms may be thus baited How to bait a single Worm proper for running line in a clear water 5. But if you Angle with one Worm only on the hook which is most proper for a Trout Salmon Smelt or Grayling in a clear water it is to be baited thus viz. put the point of the hook in at the top of his tail and run up his body quite over all the whipping or arming and still strip on almost an inch upon the hair the head and remaining part hanging downwards and covering the point of the hook but some let the head hang downwards and the point of the hook to be bare and so Angle with it But others cover the point of the hook with the Worms head as aforesaid but nip off the very tip end of the Worms head and so Angle with it How to Angle in clear water with running Line 6. Thus you are to bait the Brandlings or Giltail and onely one to be on the hook at a time well scowred your hook being small your lines should have 2 or 3 of the lower most links or gildards to be of one hair a piece then one or two links of 2 hairs a piece and then one of 3 hairs and so proceed with 3 and 4 to the topmost link the hair should be white or rather a duskish white or grey colour and the line 2 yards shorter than rod generally Vid. before cap. 2. sect 12.15 and leaded with a small pellet of shot for plumb vid. cap. 3. sect 10.11 12. thus tackled and baited Angle always in the Streams
any disturbance circling or â—lunging in the water as little as you possibly â—an 2. When you Angle at ground for small Fish as Gudgeons or at mid-water for Roch and Bleak put 2 or 3 hooks on your line the one 9 inches lower than the other which you may do by having 2 or 3 gildards armed or whip with hooks and tyed at the lowermost water knot Thus you may put on 2 or 3 different baits and you 'l try with more ease and lesâ— time which is best taken and often catch twâ— or three at once but if your bait be to run oâ— the ground as for Gudgeon you must hauâ— a fair sandy bottom free from Wood Stonâ—â— and Weeds your Lead is always to be on thâ— lowermost link 3. Give all Fish time to take and swallow thâ— bait especially Pike Gudgeon Pearch and iâ— a muddy water Trout being not over hasty unless you Angle with such tender baits as wiâ—â— not endure nibling at but must upon every touch be struck at as Pasts Sheeps blood Flies c. which are taken away at the first pull of thâ— Fish and therefore at first pull oblige you tâ— try your fortune 4. Angle for all sorts of Fish in their hauntâ—â— and places they most frequent and are describ'â— to be and at the proper seasons and times 〈◊〉 biting which you may see in the particulâ—â— Chapter of each Fish and with suitable tacklâ— and baits 5. When you Angle with Worm in a cleaâ— water sometimes put after the Worm and 〈◊〉 the point of the hook a Codbait Bob or Gentle 6. When you use Pasts or very tende baits have a small hook quick eye nimble rod a little stiff and a ready hand or all will be lost both bait and Fish which must in such case be struck at the very first touch 7. Many when they Angle for Trouts and Smelts in a clear water strike as soon as they have bit which is easily perceived by motion of the Rods point or Line 8. When you Angle at ground for Salmons put 2 or 3 Garden Worms well scowred on your hook at once and dispose your self as when you Angle at ground for a Trout 9. If you Angle for Pearch or Trout and â—atch Menows be assured that neither Pearch or Trouts are there because they are great devourers of those Fish CHAP. XXXII Angling with a Ledger bait 1. SOME persons especially when tyred and mindful to rest their wearied Limbs â—etake themselves to Angle with a Ledger bait which is when a bait always rests in one fixed â—r certain place and is so called in opposition to other baits that are always walking or in motion thence called walking baits the manner of the Ledger bait is thus Take off your Cork from your float-line it being leaded as usually and within half a yard of the top of the line wrap about it a thin plate of Lead one inch broad and an inch and half long then put your line to your rod and bait your hook and cast the same into a very gentle Stream or still slow draught and there let the bait sink and rest on the bottom you either firmly holding the Rod or sticking the thick end thereof in the River bank and either standing or sitting by it will perceive by the motion of the Lead on the Lines top when they have hit This way you may Angle for aâ— manner of Fish whatsoever especially the Chub and Eel CHAP. XXXIII Natural Fly Angling Dibbing 1. ANgling with the natural Fly called Dibbing Dapeing or Dibling is firâ—â— to be spoken to and it will serve as an introduction to Angling with the Artificial Fly 2. Dibbing is always performed on the suâ—face of the Water or sometimes by permittinâ— the bait to sink 2 4 or 5 inches into the water but that seldom unless you join a Cod-bait or Clap-bait with the Oak-fly for Trout or Chub. 3. This Dibbing is principally performed with the Green Drake or stone-fly or with the Oak-fly and Cod-baits or with Cod-baits Clap-baits Cankers Palmers Catterpillars Oak-worm and Hawthorn-worm or Grub and sometimes with an artificial Green-Drake or Stone-fly 4. The Salmon Trout Grayling Bleak Chub Roch and Dace are the only Fish that will take Flies the 4 first take the natural Fly no better than the Dub-fly except in very hot calm weather at which time its most proper to dib the rest take natural Flies either at top or under water and sometimes a Dub-fly if a Cod-bait Oak-worm Clap-bait or Gentle be joyned with it and put on the point of the hook with it but that rarely Dibbing for Trout or Grayling 5. Dibbing for Trout or Grayling is performed with a line about half length of Rod if the Air be still or with one almost as long as Rod if there be a Wind to carry it from you have 4 hairs next hook but 5 for the Chub wherein always have the Fly play or fly before you up and down the River as the Wind serves and Angle as near as you can to the bank of the side whereon you stand although where you see a Fish rise near you you may guide your quick fly over him whether in the middle or on the contrary side and if you are pretty well out of sight either by kneeling or the interposition of a bank or bush you may almost be sure to raise and take him too if it be presently done the Fish will otherwise peradventure be removed to another place if it be in the still Deeps where he is always in motion and roving up and down for Prey tho' in a Stream you may always almost especially if there be a good Stone near find him in the same place You may likewise Dlb with the Water-Cricket or Creeper in the Streams in the month of April above an inch of your line is not to be in the water therefore you may be stronger tackled How to bait the May-fly for Dibbing 6. The Green-Drake and Stone-fly all allow to be May-Flies therefore take one of them for commonly two are used and put the point of the hook into the thickest part of his body under one of his Wings run it directly through and out at the other side leaving him spitted cross on the hook then taking the other put him on after the same manner but with his head the contrary way in which posture they will live on the hook and play with their wings a quarter of an hour and let them but just touch the water but if you Dib with an Oak-fly or a Cod-bait put the Oak-fly on length ways in under his head and out at his tail and a Cod-bait on point of the hook and let them sink a little into the water and they are a killing bait especially in some Riyers Dibbing for Chubs 7. In hot weather you 'l find Chubs floating near or on the top of the water then get secretly behind some Tree or Bush standing as free from motion as possible let your
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