often enforc't to take up his quarters at such places for the conveniences of the River he Angles at as renders by their ill Dressing the most dilicate Fish not onely ingrateful to the Palate but even nauseous to the Stomach to obviate which inconvenience I will here furnish the Angler out of Mr. Walton ingenious Mr. Cotton and others what the easiest and best ways of dressing fresh water Fish so that upon such stress he may direct his Landlady so well as if shee 'l observe him neither to shame her self nor spoil a good Dish of Fish and I will first teach you how to dress the Chub he being a Fish that has lost much reputation for want of good dressing How to dress a Chub. 1. First scale him and then wash him clean and take out his Guts and to that end make the hole little and as near to his Guils you may conveniently and especially make clean his Throat from Grass and Weeds that are usual in it for if that be not clean it will make him tast sowr having so done put some sweet herbs into his Belly and then tye him with a or 3 splinters to a Spit and roast him basted often with Vinegar or rather Verjuice and Butter with good store of Salt mixt with it This way drys up the fluid watry humor with which all Chubs do abound A Tench may be thus drest like wise Another way to dress a Chub. 2. When you have scaled the Chub and cut of his Tail and Fins and washed him very clean then chine or slit him through the middle as a Salt Fish is usually cut then give him 3 or 4 cuts or scotches on the back with your Knife and broil him on Charcoal Wood-coal or Coal that are free from Smoak and all the time he 's broiling bast him with best sweet Butter and good store of Salt mixt with it and to this add a little Thyme cut exceeding small or bruised into the Butter Drest in this manner the watry tast is taken away for which many except against him they are to be eaten the same day they are caught and forget not to wash his Throat very clean and his Body must not be washed after gutted as indeed no Fish should be but wiped clean with a linnen cloath After this manner you may dress other Fish as Trouts Barbels c. Another way to dress a Chub. 3. Set a Kettle over the fire with some Beer Vinegar and Water so much as will cover the Fish and therein put Fennel and good store of Salt and when the water boils put in the Chub he being first scald gutted and throat made clean and when boil'd enough take him out and lay him on a board for the water to run from him having so rested one hour pick all the Fish from the Bones and lay it on a Pewter dish which set on a Chafing-dish of Coals and put good store of Butter to it which when the Fish is very well hot serve it up and eat it as minced Veal To dress Trouts the common way 4. First with a Knife gently scrape all the slime off them then wash them in Salt and Water then gut them and wipe them very clean with a linnen cloth then flower them with Wheat-flower and fry them very well in Sweet-butter until they be brown and crisp then take them out of the frying-pan and lay them on a pewter dish very well heated before then Fire then pour off the Batter the Trouts were fryed in into the Grease-pot and not on the Fish then fry good store of Parsly and young Sage in other Sweet-butter until they be crisp then take out the Herbs and lay them on the Fish but put not any of the Butter wherein the Herbs were fried on the Fish Then beat up some Sweet-butter with three or four spoonfuls of boiling hot spring-water an Anchovis being first therein dissolved if you can easily have them and pour it on the Fish and serve it up garnishing your dish with Straw-berry or other green leaves Graylings Pearches small Pikes or Jakes Roch Eel Gudgeon to fry This is the way to fry Trouts or Salmon Smelts under a Foot-long or Graylings Roches Dates Breams or Gudgeons their Scales first scraped off and you may thus fry small Eels after they are flead gutted wiped clean and cut into pieces of four or five Inches long You may also fry this way Pearches and small Pikes c. The best way of dressing a Trout Take the Trout wash and dry him with a clean Napkin then open him and having taken out his Guts and all the Blood wipe him very clean within but wash him not and give him three scotches with a Knife to the Bone on one side only After which take a clean Kettle and put in as much hard stale Beer but it must not be flat or dead Vinegar and a little white wine and water as will cover the Fish you intend to boil then throw into the Liquor a good quantity of Salt the rind of a Lemon a handful of slic't Horse Radish root with a handsome little Fagot of Parsley Rosemary time and Winter-savory Then set your Kettle upon a quick fire of Wood and let your Liquor boil up to the height before you put in your Fish and then if there be many put them in one by one that they may not so cool the Liquor as to make it fall and whilst your Fish is boyling beat up the butter for the Sawce with a Ladle full or two of the Liquor its boyling in and being boyled enough immediately powr the Liquor from the Fish and being laid in a Dish powr your Butter upon it and strewing it plentifully over with shaved Horse-Radish and a little pounded Ginger garnish the sides of your Dish and the Fish it self with a slic't Lemon or two and serve it up In the same manner you may dress a Salmon-Moat under half a yard long Grayling Carp Bream Roch Pike Pearh Salmon Moat likewise a Grayling Carp Bream and large Roch may be drest after the same manner only they are to be scal'd which a Trout never is and that must be done very lightly and carefully with a Knife for bruising the Fish also a Pike may be thus drest the slime being first well scourd off with Water and Salt so likewise may a Pearch be drest but before you powr on the Sawce blanch off the Pearches Skin To Dress Salmon 6. You may fry pieces of Salmon or a Chine of Salmon as you are directed for the Trout at Sect. 4. of this Chapter To Stew Salmon or other Fish 7. Take a Salmon draw it scotch the back put it whole or in pieces into a Stew-pan and thereunto put some Beer-Vinegar white Wine and Water as much as will cover it put also to it some whole Cloves large Mace slic'd Ginger a Bay Leaf a bundle of the tops of Rosemary Time sweet Marjoram winter Savory add pick't Parsly some
whole Peper Salt Butter and an Orange in halves stew all leisurely together and when well stewed dish them with carved Sippets lay on the spices and slc'd Lemon run it over with Butter beaten up with some of the Liquor it was stewed in garnish the dish with fearsed Manchet c. Thus you may stew any other Fish as Carp pike Bream c. The best way to boyl a Carp 8. Take a Carpy alive if possible scour him and rub him clean with Water and Salt but scale him not then open him and put him with his Blood and his Liver which you must save when you open him into a small Pot or Kettle then take sweet Marjoram Time and Parsly of each half a handful a sprig of Rosemary and another of Savory bind them into two or three small bundles and put them to your Carp with 4 or 5 whole Onyons twenty pickled Oysters and three Anchovies then pour upon your Carp as much Claret Wine as will cover him and season the Claret well with Salt Cloves bruised Mace slic'd Nutmeg and the rinds of Oranges and Lemons that done cover the Pot and set it on a quick fire till it be sufficiently boyled then take out the Carp and lay it with the broth in the Dish and pour upon it a quarter of a pound of good fresh Butter melted and beaten with half a dozen spoonfuls of the Broth the Yealks of two or three Eggs and some of the Herbs shred Garnish the Dish with Lemons and so serve it up If you be not willing to be at the charges of the Wine you may in its stead put good Sider and for want of that some white Wine good Beer-vinegar and Water will serve very well instead of the Claret you may also omit the pickled Oysters and Anchovies and it will notwithstanding such omission eat very well In the same manner you may dress other Fish only you must for others omit the Blood and Liver As Pike Bream Trout Pearch Grayling c. Those that have scales being scal'd and put them into the Liquor before it boyls The common way of boyling Fish is to draw scale them if scales and wipe them clean and then to set over a Kettle with as much water as will cover the Fish and to put therein some Beer-Vinegar good store of sweet Fennel and Salt and when the Liquor boils very well up to put in the Fish and when boyled enough let the water run off and lay them on a hot Powter Dish and serve them up with beaten Butter and some shred Parsly boyled by it self How to Fry Eels 9. First take the Eel flea him gut him and wash him clean then cut him into the lengths of three or four Inches a piece then set over water in a skellet and let it boyl wherein you must put good store of salt and some Fennel or Rosemary when this water boils put in the peices of Eel and let them therein be almost half boyl'd then take them out putting them into a Cullendar then flower and fry them and proceed farther as you are instructed to fry a Trout at Sect. 4. of this Chapter for a Trout The best way of Dressing a large Eel 10. First wash the Eel which should be a large one in water and salt then pull off his skin below his Vent or Navel and not much farther having done that take out his guts as clean as you can but wash him not but wipe him clean within with a linnen Cloth and then give him three or four scotches with a Knife then put into his belly and those scotches sweet Herbs which are the tops of Rosemary sweet Marjoram Winter-savory stripped Time and picked Parsly an Anchovy and a little Nutmeg grated or cut very small the Herbs and Anchovys cut small and mixed with good Butter and Salt having done this then pull his skin over him all but his Head which you are to cut off to the end you may tye his skin about that part where his Head grew and it must be so tyed as to keep all his moisture within his skin and having done this with Tape or Pack-thread tie him to a Spit and Roast him leisurely and bast him with Salt and Water till his skin breaks and then with Butter and having roasted him enough let what was put into his belly be mixed with beaton butter for the sawce Note That when you put the Herbs and Anchovy into his Belly they are first to be cut very small before they be put into the Eels Belly and mixt with Butter and Salt and if you omit the Anchovy yet the Eel will eat well enough To roast Eels 11. Take Eels flea gut and wipe them clean and cut them in pieces four or five Inches long put them on a small spit cross-ways and between each piece put some large sage leaves or Bay-leaves then roast and bast them and when enough serve them up with Butter beaten up in 3 or 4 spoonfuls of boiling-water and the yolk of an Egg or two if you like Eggs. Spitch Cock or broiled Eels 12. Take a large Eel splat it down the back and joint-bone being drawn and the Blood washed out leave on the Skin and cut it in 4 pieces equally Salt them and bast them with butter broil them on a soft Fire and being finely broild serve them on a clean dish with beaten butter Stewed Eels 13. Draw them flay them and wipe them clean and cut them in pieces 3 or 4 Inches long and put them into a Posnet or Skillet with fair water a little White-wine Verjuice or instead thereof Beer-Vinegar as much as will well cover them butter some large Mace Pepper a quarter of a pound of Currans Salt two or three Onions three or fourspoonfuls of Yeast and a bundle of Sweet-herbs Stew all these together leasurely till the Fish be very tender then dish them and put to the Broth a quarter of a pound of Butter pour it on the Fish sipped it and serve it up In like manner you may stew them in an Oven cutting them in peices and setting them an the end in an earthen pot boing first seasoned with Pepper Salt Cloves Nutmeg sweet Herbs chop'd small Currans Butter but instead of the Currans and Butter some only put in 2 or 3 spoonfuls of fair water and 4 or 5 Cloves of Garlick and so bake them and serve them on Sippets To Collar Eels Take large Eels slay draw and wipe them clean with a Linnen Cloth part them down the back and take out the back-bone then take Thyme Parsley sweet Marjoram and a little of the tops of Rosemary mince them small and mingle them with Nutmeg Ginger Pepper and Salt then strew them on the inside of the Eels then rowl them up like a Collar of Brawn and put them in a clean Linnen Cloth tied at both ends and boil them tender with Beer-Vinegar Water and Salt but let the Liquor boyl before you put in the Eels
when boyl'd enough take them out of the Liquor and let them and the Liquor be cold and put them in again and you may therein keep them 3 or 4 days or more and you may serve it either in Collars or in round slices with Sawcers of Vinegar To Roast a Pike 14 First open your Pike at the Gills and if need be cut also a little Slit towards the Belly out of these take his Guts and keep his Liver which you are to shred very small with Thyme sweet Marjoram and a little Winter Savory to these put some pickled Oysters and two or three Anchovies both these last whole for the Anchovies will melt and the Oysters should not to these you must add also a pound of sweet Butter which you are to mix with the Herbs that are shred and let them all be well Salted if the Pike be more than a yard long then you may put into these herbs more than a pound of Butter if he be less then loss will suffice these being thus mixt with a blade or 2 of Mace must be put into the Pikes Belly and the Belly so sowed up as to keep all the Butter in his belly if it be possible if not then as much of it as you possibly can but take not off the scales then you are to thrust the spit through his month out at his tail then take 4 5 or 6 Split-sticks or very thin Laths and a convenient quantity of Tape or Filleting these are to be tyed round about the Pikes body from his head to his Tail and the Tape tyed somewhat thick to prevent his breaking or falling off from the Spit let him be roasted very leasurely and basted often with Claret Wine and Anchovies and Butter mixt together and also with what moisture falls from him into the Pan when roasted sufficiently you are to hold under him when you unwind or cut the Tape that ties him such a Dish as you purpose to eat him out of and let him fall into it with the Sawce that is roasted in his Belly and by this means the Pike will be kept unbroken and compleat then to the Sawce which was within you are to add a fit quantity of the best Butter and to squeeze therein the juyce of 3 or 4 Oranges lastly you may either put into the Pike with the Oysters 3 or 4 Cloves of Garlick and take it whole our when the Pike is taken off the Spit or to give the Sawce a hogo let the Dish into which you let the Pike fall be rubbed with it the using or not using the Garlick is left to your discretion 15. Whensoever you do Butter for Fishes sawce let it be very well beaten up with 3 or 4 spoonfuls of boyling Spring water and if you desire it to be thick dissolve a Yolk of an Egg therein well beaten with the Butter and if you desire the Sawce to be better relished than ordinary put an Anchovy in the water and let it dissolve before you beat up the Butter or boil Parsly by it self and shred it and â—eat it up with the Butter and Water and its a good Sawce Trouts Chubs Carp Bearch Bream Roch Gudgeon and Grayling should be eat the very same day they are caught else they are worth little Finally let me tell you That in the course of my Observations I know amongst all sorts â—f Fish none differ amongst themselves in taste more than Eels for I have eat of them taken â—ut of above 30 several Rivers and amongst â—he rest of the Thames Severn and Trent Eel â—et none that I ever met with were to be comâ—ared for goodness although not large and deliciousness of Taste to the Eels caught in a small River in Lancashire called Irk which is composed of 3 small Brooks that have their conflux near unto Middleton Hall where it assumes the name of Irk and thence descends through Blakely and Crumpsall c. to Manchester where under Chetham's Hospital it mingles its waters with the Irwell and thereunto pays the Tribute of its Name Neither are the Inhabitants on its Bank partial in their Judgments by reason of their vicinity but it s highly applauded for its excellent taste by persons meer Strangers and such as had the estimation of curious Palats and having often enquired of the Neighbouring People to it what might be the reason they have unanimously ascribed it to the numerousness of Fulling Mills that stand on that River and say that the Fat Oyl and Grease scowred out of the Cloth make the Eels pallatable and fat above other River Eels FINIS The TABLE c. signifies Chapter and sect Section ANngling at Float c. 28. At Dubsly c. 34. At running-line both in clear and muddy water c. 27. At top with a worm c. 29. In the Night c. 30. Rules for ground and midwater Angling c. 31. With a leager Bait c. 32. With natural Fly c. 33. With a Minnow for Trout c. 36. for Pike with a Minnow c. 37. With Trowl for Pike c. 37. with snap c. 37. with snare c. 37. For an Eel c. 22. by boboing broyling and sningling and ledger bait idem A. Ashgrub c. 4. sect 14. Anesty c. 4. sect 19. Ashfly c. 4. sect 31. B. Bleak c. 25. Blackberries c. 4. sect 28. Blood c. 4. sect 17. Bags c. 3. sect 16. Baits c. 4. c. 7. sect 11. Bobs c. 4. sect 9.10 Barkworm c. 4. sect 14. Bull-Head c. 4. sect 22. c. 6. Barbel c. 19. Bream c. 18. Brandling c. 4. sect 3. Bobbing for Eels c. 22. Brogling for Eels c. 22. Beetle c. 4. sect 25. Codbait c. 4. sect 11.12.13 c. 3. sect 16. Case-Worm c. 4. sect 11.12.13 c. 3. sect 16. Cadizworm c. 4. sect 11.12.13 c. 3. sect 16. Creeper c. 4. sect 26. Cherries c. 4. sect 28. Choose c. 4. sect 29. Carp c. 16. Chub and Chevin c. 21. and c. 33. Claphait c. 4. sect 10. D Dockworm c. 4. sect 15. Directions general c. 7. Dace and Dare c. 21. Dow-worm c. 4. sect 2. c 27. sect 3â— Dibbing c. 33. Dubfly c. 34. Depth of water to try c. 3. sect 13. Dressing of Fish c. 39. E. Eyes of Fish c. 4. sect 34. Eel c. 22. F. Fishponds c. 38. Flagworm c. 4. sect 15. Float Angling c. 28. Floats c. 3. sect 5.6.7.8.9 Feeding Fish c. 7. sect 9.10 Fly natural to Angle with 33. Fly Artificial c. 34. Fishes general Haunt c. 7. sect 7. Flook and Flounder c. 24. G Gentles c 4. sect 16. Grain c. 4. sect 18. Grashopper c. 4. sect 25. Green-drake c. 4. sect 32. Garden worm c. 4. sect 2. Grayling c. 12. Gudgeon c. 15. Giltgil c. 4. sect 3. H. Hair c. 2. Hooks c. 3. sect 1 2 3 4. Hornets and Humble Bees c. 4. sect 20. Hawthorn sly c. 4. sect 33. Haunt general of Fish c. 7. sect 7. L. Lamprey c. 4. sect 23. Lines c. 2. Leading lines c. 3. sect 10 11 12. Line Cases c. 3. sect 15. Loach c. 4. sect 22. c. 26. Lip-berries c. 4. sect 27. Ledger bait c. 32. Lob-worm c. 4. sect 2. M Magots c. 4. sect 16. Minnow c. 4. sect 22. c 26. c. 36. Marsh or Meadow worm c. sect 4. Mulberries c. 4. sect 28. N Net c. 3. sect 12. Night Angling c. 30. O Oak-worm c. 4. sect 8. Oak-fly c. 4. sect 31. Oyntments c. 6. P Posts c. 5. Plummet c. 3. sect 13. Pannier c. 3. sect 18. Palmer Fly or Worm c. 4. sect 8. Pride c. 4. sect 23. Pike c. 4. sect 30. c. 23. c. 37. c. 39. Pearch c. 13. Pope c. 14. R Rods for Angling c. 1. Rosberries c. 4. sect 28. Receipts c. 6. Ruff c. 14. Roch c. 20. Running Line and Worm c. 27. Redworm c. 4. sect 3. S Sheeps blood c. 4. sect 17. Salmon c. 11. Salmon spawn c. 4. sect 21 Snails c. 4. sect 24. Stone-fly c. 4. sect 32. c. 34. Seasons proper for Angling or not c. 8. c 9. Swivel c. 36. Snap and Snare c. 37. Singling for Eils c. 22. T Trowling c. 37. Trout c. 10. Tagtail c. 4. sect 5. Tench c. 17. Twatchell c. 4. sect 2. W. Whetstone c. 3. sect 14. Worms c. 4 sect 1.2.3.4.5.6.7 How to bait c. 7. sect 11. c. 27. Wool-bed c. 4. sect 8. White grub and White Bait c. 4. sect 9.10 Wasps c. 4. sect 20. Water-Cricket and Water-Louse c. 4. sect 31. FINIS Courteous Reader YOU may be pleased to take notice That at the Sign of the Three Trouts in St. Pauls Church-Yard on the North side you may be fitted with all sorts of the best Fishing Tackle by John Margrave
is best which should be 4 yards and 9 inches of Cane and a top of Hasle and Whalebone of one Yard and half or an Ell long at least the stiffness of the Cane is helped by the length and strength of the top the proportionable bending whereof preserves the Line chiefly having got a Hasle top an Ell long cut off 5 or 6 inches at the small end then piece neatly to the remaining part a small piece of round smooth and taper Whalebone and whip it to the Hasle with waxed Silk all which will make the Rod to be long gentle and not so apt to break let not the Whalebone be above 6 inches long and thereunto whip a narrow but strong noose of hair to put your Line to 3. If your Hook fasten on Wood or Stones in the water take out the top and instead thereof put a stick of Hasle which hath 2 grains and follow the line therewith until you come to the Hook the line running betwixt the grains and it will loosen the Hook then take out the stick and put in the top again Best Rod for sly and running line in cleer water 4. A Rod for fly Angling or running line in a cleer water for Trout or Grayling should be of Hazel 6 inches of Whale-bone 5 yards and half or 6 yards long the Hazel of several pieces taper and proportionably fitted to each other so neatly piec't together with sine wax thread below and silk above as to make it taper and rush-grown like a switch and ply with a true bent to the hand But the neatest Rod is thus made get a white Deal or Fir board that 's thick and free from knots and frets and ten foot long let the Arrow maker divide this with a Saw into several breadths then with his Planes let him shoot them smooth and rush-grown or taper-wise and one of these will be 10 foot of the bottom of your Rod all in one piece then piece to it a Hazel 5 foot long proportioned to the Fir yet rush-grown the Hazel may consist of one or two pieces then to the Hazel piece a piece of Yew 20 inches long and to the Yew a piece of small round smooth whale-bone 5 or 6 inches long this will be a curious Rod if artificially work't be sure that the Deal for bottom be strong now the whiteness of the Deal or Fir will scare away Fish but you must colour the Fir in this following manner To colour the Fir-stock viz. warm the Firr bottom at the fire when finished by the Arrowmaker then with a Feather dipt in Aqua Fortis stroak the Rod and with your hand chase it into the Fir and it will make it a pure Cinnamon colour Roch c. Rod. 5. Rods for Roch Dace Tench Bream and Carp c. should not have the top so gentle as one for fly therefore make their tops pretty stiff that so the Rod may exactly answer the motion of your hand for Roch and Dace only nibble and if you strike not just in that very moment especially if you Fish with Paste or any very tender bait you miss them because a slender top folds and bends a little with a sudden Jerk 6. In droughts steep your Rod in water a little before you begin to Angle 7. At top of the Rod or Fin fix with Shoomakers Wax and Silk a noose or loop of hair not large but strong and very streight to fix your Line to Rods length 8. Generally length of Rod is to be governed by the breadth of the River you Angle in but always use a Rod full as long as the River will bear and let the same be very well mounted I never use a Rod under 5 yards and a half long and I find more advantages by it than I need to trouble you with here by telling them and although I generally Angle in a small River yet I use one of that length constantly Running Line top 9. Your top for running line must be gentle that the Fish may more easily and to himself insensibly run away with the Bait and not be scared with the stiffness of the Rod and if you make your top of Yew and Whalebone as before is directed it will conduce much to this purpose the Yew though much bended will quickly return to its former standing To preserve Rods. 10. To preserve Hasles whether stocks or tops from Worm-eating or rotting twice or thrice in a year as you think fit rub them all over with Sallet Oyl Tallow or sweet Butter which was never salted and with much rubbing chase the same into them and keep your rod dry least it rot and not too near the Fire least it grow brittle CHAP. II. Of Hair and Lines What hairs to elect for lines 1. ELect your hair not from lean poor or diseas'd Jades but from a Stone-horse or Gelding at least that is sat strong and lusty and of 4 or 5 years old and that which groweth from the inmost and middle part of his Dock and so extendeth it self downwards to the ground are commonly the biggest and strongest hairs about the Horse and better than those upon the upper part of or setting on of the tail generally best Horses have the best hair Colour of hair for lines 2. Hair of a sorrel or Chess-nut colour is best for ground Angle especially in muddy waters that being the colour of Gravel or Sand. The white and gray or duskish white hair for the Fry and running line in clear Rivers The pale watery green but not a deep green for weedy Rivers in the Summer a black may do well for Rivers that immediately flow from Mosses and are thereby very black 3. Some although I never do dy their hair of what colour they please which for a Brown is thus done viz. Boil Walnut leaves and a few Marigolds in Chamber-ly or in stead thereof water and some Allum in it and when cold steep the hair therein Some say that the Inner bark of a Crab tree boild in water with some Allum makes a pure yellow Colour which is only if at any time good when the Weeds rot 4. If you 'l have a palewater green take a pint of strong Ale half a pound of soot a little quantity of juice of Walnut leaves an equal quantity of Allum put all together in a pot pan or pipkin boil them half an hour being cold put the hair into it and it will make the hair of a glass colour or pale green Colour the longer it lies the deeper's the colour but if you 'l have it rather a deeper green Take a Pottle of Allum water a large handful of Marigold leaves boil them till a yallow scum arise then take half a pound of green coperas as much Verdigrease beat them into sine pouder put those into the Allum water set all to cool then put in the hair and let it remain till its deep enough colored about 12 hours then take it out and lay it to dry
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-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
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
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
that when one sort of Baits come in season the preceeding are not useless and whensoever you Angle at ground in clear water have both Earthworms Cod-bait Gentles and Bobs with you and in more likelyhood Success will attend your Labours But if you go to Angle for Trout in a muddy water with running Line you need only take Brandlings Gilt-tails Tagtal and Meadow-worm with you if the three last are not to be easily got then Brandlings only and you may have some scowred only in moss and water others as is directed with Riddle and others with Grave earth for sometimes they will take the Worm kept one way and sometimes the other and that all on the fame day and in 2 hours space Of Worms there are divers sorts some bred in the Earth and therefore called Earth-worms or Worms simply without any addition such are the Dew-worm Red worm Brandling Gilt-tail Tag-tail and Meadow worm others are bred on Herbs Plants or Trees as Palmers or Wool beds Catterpillers Oak worm and Cabbage or Colewort worm Others on Excrements or some dead Flesh as Gentles c. of all which this Chapter treats Dew worm Garden-worm Lob-worm or Twatchell 2. Are but one Worm although called in different places by all the said names and its the principal Worm for Salmons Chevins Trouts Barbels and Eels that are of the greatest size but for smaller Fish tho' of the same species it s not so proper of these some be called Squirrel-tails which has a red head a streak down the back and a broad Tail and these are esteemed the best because they are toughest most lively and live longest in the Water for with a dead Worm you are in all probability to catch little or nothing This Worm is found in a Garden or Church-Yard late in a Summers Evening with a Lanthorn Brandling Gilt-tails and Ged-worms 3. Are the principal Worms for all sorts of Fish and are generally to be found in old Dunghills or some very rotten place near to them but usually in Cow Dung or Hogs-Dung rather than Horse-durg which is somewhat too hot and dry for them but the best are to be found in Tanners bark which they cast up in heaps after they have used it about their Leather These especially the two first are the prime Worms Anglers use for Trouts Graylings Salmen smelts Gudgeon Flounder Pearch Tench and Bream These 3 last take the red-Worm well scoured very well The Brandlings and Gilt-tails are taken by Trouts and Graylings both in muddy and clear waters but the red worm best in muddy waters Some say the Branding is the best Worm for a Trout others the Gilt-tail but if you Angle with two Worms on the Hook at once as is generally used for Trouts in muddy waters then put both a Brandling and Gilt-tail on the Hook at once the Gilt-tail the latter Marsh or Meadow worms 4. Are got out of Marsh ground or the fertile banks of Rivers and is a little blewish and should be well scowred and then its both tough and sprightly 'T is a choise Worm in March April and September for Trouts Salmon Smelts Gudgeon Grayling and Flounder Tagtail 5. Is a Worm of the colour of a mans hand or a pale flesh colour with a yellow tag on his tail about half an inch long They are sound in Marled Lands or Meadows after a shower of Rain or in a morning in weather that is calm not cold in March and April it s a very good Worm for Trouts and there are Anglers that affirm that there is not a better Bait in the World for a Trout if you Angle with them whilst the Water is discoloured by Rain some commend it likewise for a Grayling 6 Note that Dew-worm Red-worm and Meadow-worm will abide more scowring than any other of the before mentioned Worms and are better for long keeping How to Order keep and scour Worms 7. Put your Worms into very good long Moss whether white red or green is not much material but the soft white Moss that grows on some Heaths is best but it is difficult to be found in some Places and Countreys wash it well and cleanse it from all earth and filth wring it very dry then put your Moss and Worms into an earthen Pot cover it close that they crawl not out set it in a cool place in Summer and in Winter in a warm place that the Frost kill them not every third day in Summer change the Moss once a week in the Winter The longer you keep them especially the Log-worm Marsh-worm and Red-worm before you use them the better Some mingle Camomil or Fennel with the Moss Clean scowring Worms makes them redder clearer tougher sprightlier live long on the Hook and keep colour and consequently more desirable by Fish If you be in hast a little Bole armoniack put to them will further your desire and make them scour in a short time Or you may put the Dew-worm and Red-worm 4 or 5 hours in water and they will scour themselves but be very weak yet a few hours in good Moss will recover them Then observe when the knot near the middle of the Brandling begins to swell he 's sick and if not well looked to is near Death but lest they Die you may seed them with crumbs of Bread and Milk or fine flower and milk or the Yolk of an Egg and sweet Cream coagulated over the Fire give them a little and often Or if you be in haste put your Bradlings Gilt-tails c. into Moss that is exceeding wet and it will quickly scour them but not keep them long but when you go to Angle remove them into Moss out of which the water is well wrung or squeczed Some wet their Moss very well in sweet Milk or Alewort in which there hath been no Hops and then squeeze it pretty well and over-night put the Worms therein they intend to use the next day and think Fish like them better but the Worms must not rest long in Moss thus wet in Milk or Alewort in regard it will much swell them and in 24 hours spoil them but if you put them in fresh Moss and Water it will well revive them Others and expert Anglers keep them in Moss and good store of Earth cast out of a Grave the less time the party hath been Buried the better and put them in fresh Moss and some of this Earth when they go to Angle and those that use this much boast of its excellency in alluring Fish I know some ingenious Anglers that in the Spring and for a muddy water use to shave Riddle or red Oker with which people in Lancashire use to mark their Sheep into the Moss they keep their Worms in and sometimes those baits will be taken eagerly when the brighter that is those kept in Moss and Water only will not at all be taken and perhaps within an hour again the bright ones will be taken and the radled worms refused Now since all
ways are discovered to you for keeping and ordering your Worms elect that way which Experience assures you to be the best only this let me observe That if I could otherwise help it I would never have my Brandlings and Gilt-tails kept in Moss and the water well squeezed out of it which way I only use less than 48 hours or above 8 days but I often Angle with them when they are not scoured above 16 hours but 't is not so good Palmer worm Palmer fly and Wool-bed 8. Are all one Worm bred on Herbs and Trees and is if not a perfect Catterpillar yet a species thereof These are rough and woolly on the outward parts hence by some called Wool-beds and are good Baits either for Trout Chub Grayling or Dace Palmer fly and May-fly are the very ground of all Fly Angling Catterpillars Oak worm Cabbage-worm Colewort-worm Hawthorn-worm or Grub Crabtree-worm or Iack Are Worms bred on Herbs or Trees and may be kept with the Leaves of those Trees or Herbs on which they are bred by renewing the Leaves often in a day and putting in fresh instead of the old ones the Boxes they are kept in should have a few small holes bored therein to let in the Air But you may keep them best as is already directed cap. 3 sect 16. in Withy Bark These are good Baits for Chub Roch Dace Trout c. and fish bite much better at the Oak-worm or any Worm bred on Herbs or Trees if you Angle with the same when they shew themselves on the top of the water as with the natural Fly than if you use it under for when a gale of wind shaketh the Trees the Worms fall into the water and presently rise and float on the top where fish rise at them as at Flies and indeed they sink not till tost and beaten by the Waves or Stream and so they dye and lose their native colour and then the fish as you may perceive by those on your hook value them not although these sort of Baits are taken by Roch Dace and Chub well at the top of the Water yet you may Angle 18 inches or lower within the water and they do very well or you may put one on the point of a dub-Fly hook and dib with it or dib with the Ash-Fly and one of these on the point of the Hook for Trouts The Oak-worm is a very good Bait and of a fine green colour and in Ponds is a Murtherer of Roch and Dace To get these Baits beat on an Oak Crabtree or Hawthorn that grows over an High way or bare place and they 'l fall for you to gather or go to Cabbages or Coleworts c. and there seek for them Some think the Palmer-worm Carerpillar c. are bred from a Dew left on the leaves of Trees Herbs or Flowers Coleworts or Cabages which being condensed by the Suns generaâ—ive heat do in three days become living Creatures of several shapes and colours some beâ—ng hard and tough some smooth and soft some â—re horned in their head some in their tail â—ome have none some have hair on them some â—one some of them are bred of the eggs or â—pawn of the Catterpillars and in time turn to â—e Butterflies and generally all Flies being â—red of putrefaction receive Life or vivifie as â—â—e Suns heat furthers or disposes the Seminal â—ertue by which they are bred unto animaâ—â—on Bobs 9. Are of two sorts the one found or bred 〈◊〉 mellow resty heathy sandy light soils and gathered after the Plow when the Land is first broken up from Grazing and is call'd the Earth-bob White Grub and White bait white-grub or white-bait and is a Worm as big as two Maggots hath a red head and is all soft and full of whitish Guts you may easily know in what ground most are for there the Crows will be watchful and follow the Plow very close or you your self may dig one spade graft deep for them in sandy heathy ground that has lain long rest from the Plow and find sufficient of them These are a choice Bait from the 1 of November until after mid April for Chub Roch Dace Salmon smelts Trout Bream and Carp When you gather these put them into a Poâ—â—â— or Firkin with sufficient of the Soil they were bred in to preserve them then stop the Vessel exceeding close or all will spoil set iâ— where neither Wind nor Frost may offend them and they will keep all Winter for use Some in the morning they go to Angle boiâ— those they intend to use that day in Milk oâ— Water one or two minutes and then pouâ— them on a Sieve but they 'l not keep afteâ— boyling above 2 days in like manner yoâ— may boil the brood of Wasps Horners Humble Bees c. some put these Baits in a littlâ— Earth and Hony the day before they Anglâ— with them for Carp or Breain which boylinâ— makes them tough plump and white Cow-turd bob or Clap-bait 10. The other Bob is found under a Cow-turd from about May day until about Michaelmas that rests on such a ground as the other is found in and is also called a Clap-bait in some places 't is an excellent Bait for Trout if you Angle with it as a Cod-bait is used on the top of the water with a bristled hook only you may sometimes put a pair of Wings and head such as is used for Dub-fly on the top of the Hook This Bait is almost like a Gentle but bigger and is kept in wet Moss but above 3 or 4 days it will not keep it may be kept as Codbait is at chap. 3. sect 16. in withy Bark Fish of all sorts likewise take the Clapbait within water as the Chub Trout Grayling Roch Dace Carp Tench c. I think for Trout and Smelt you may imitate it with yellow Wax Codbait Cadisworm Cadbait or Case-worm 11. Are all one and the same Bait and of these there are two sorts some say 3 one bred under Stones that lie a little hollow in shallow Rivers or small Brooks in a very fine Gravelly Case or Husk these are yellow when ripe the other in Pits Ponds flow running Rivers or Ditches in Cases or Husks of Sticks Straws or Rushes Both are excellent for Trout and Grayling and most sort of Fish as Carp Tench Chub Roch Dace and Bleak The green sort bred in Pits Ponds and Ditches are found in March before the yellow ones come the other yellow sort come in May or the end of April and are out of season in July a third sort but smaller come in again in August 12. These Codbaits cannot endure the Wind and Cold therefore keep them in a thick woollen bag with some Gravel amongst them wet them once a day if in the House but oftner in hot weather when you carry them forth fill the bag full of water then hold the mouth close that they drop not out and so let the water run from them thus they
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
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
clarified Honey temper them before the fire into a Past some omit the Bean and Wheat-flower 2. Take Sheeps Kidney Suet as much Cheese fine flower or Manchet make it into a Past and allay its stiffness with clarified Honey 3. Take Sheeps-blood Cheese Fine Manchet Clarified Honey make all into a Past 4. Take Cherries the stones being taken out Sheeps-blood fine Manchet and Saffron to colour it with and make a Past 5. Take the fattest old Cheese and strongest of the Rennet Mutton-Kidney Suet Wheat flower and Anniseed Water and if for Chub add some reasted Bacon beat all very small into a fine Past 6. Take the fattest old Cheese and strongest of the Rennet Mutton-Kidney Suet and Turmerick reduced into a fine pouder work all into a Past add the Turmerick only till the Past become of a very fine lovely yellow colour this is excellent for Chevin Observations on Past 7. In September and all Winter when you Angle for Chub Carp and Bream with Past let the bait be as big as a large Hazel Nut but for Roach and Dace the bigness of a large Pea or ordinary Bean is sufficient 8. You may add to any Past Assa fetida Oyl of Polypody of the Oak Oyl Ivy or the Gum of Ivy and many other things and try whether they will encrease the Sport 9. Into all sort of Pasts whatever beat Cotton Wooll shaved Lint or fine Flax into it which will make it stick well on the Hook and not wash off and if you would have the Past keep long put Virgins Wax and Clarified Honey into it 10. When you Angle with Past have a small Hook quick Eye a nimble Hand and Rod and that somewhat stiff too or both bait and Fish are lost and you must strike at the very first time you perceive them bite and Past is to be used in Pits Ponds Mears slow running Rivers or standing waters only Note that this Rule is General and holds in all very tender baits 11. Past is a very good bait for Chub Roch Dace Barbel Carp Tench and Bream and Bleak 12. When you Angle with Past or any very tender bait use a Float of Quill rather than of Cork 13. Some pound strong Cheese with fresh Butter and Saffron to colour it in a Mortar and make a Past thereof 14. Take Flower made of fine Manchet and Butter and Saffron to colour it and make a Past and you 'l find it an excellent Bait for Reck and Dace c. CHAP. VI. Oyntments to Alure Fish to the Bait. NEXT follow Oyntments and Receipts which I have read and been informed of by several knowing Anglers for the better furtherance of this Sport some whereof I have Experienced and tho I found them advantagious to my Recreation yet far from so high a degree as has been pretended to me nevertheless I shall present you with them and if you 'l be at the expence and labour of a Tryal you may Elect those for your daily use which on your own Experience you find to be the best and the first shall be one highly comended by Monsieur Charras Operator and Apothecary Royal to the present French King Lewis the 14. in his Pharmacopoeia printed at London part the second f. 245. 1. Take Mans Fat and Cats Fat of each half an Ounce Mummy finely poudred three Drams Cummin-seed finely poudered one Dram distilled Oyl of Annise and Spike of each six Drops Civet two Grains and Camphir 4 Grains make an Oyntment according â—o Art and when you Angle anoint 8 Inches of the Line next the Hook therewith and keep it in a pewter Box made something taper and when you use this Oyntment never Angle with less than three Hairs next Hook because if you Angle but with one hair it will not stick on 2. Take Gum Ivy and put thereof a good quantity into a Box made of Oak such as Apothecaries use of White-wood and long for Pills and chase and rub the inside of the box with this Gum and when you Angle put three or four Worms therein letting them remain but a short time for if long it kills them and then take them out and Fish with them putting more in their stead out of the worm-bag and Moss and thus do all day 3. To get Gum-Ivy at Michaelmas or Spring drive several great Nails into large Ivy stalks and wriggle the same till they become very loose and let them remain and a Gum will issue thereout Slit in the Spring and at Michaelmas several great Ivy stalks and visit them once a Month to see if Gum flow from the wounded part 4. Take Assa-faetida half an ounce Camphir two Drams bray them well together with some drops of Oyl Olive and put it in a pewter Box and use it as the first Receipt of this Chapter some instead of Oyl Olive use the Chymical Oyl of Lavender and Camomil and so ne add the quantity of a Nutmeg of Venice Turpentine to it 5. Take Venice Turpentine and best Hive Honey and Oyl of Polypody of the Oak drawn by Retort mix all together and use it as the first Receipt of this Chapter 6. Take Oyl of Ivy-berries made by expression or infusion and put some in a Box and use it as is directed in the second Receipt of this Chapter 7. Dissolve Gum Ivy in the Oyl of Spike and anoint the bait therewith 8. Put Camphir into the Moss wherein are the Worms the day you Angle 9. Dissolve two ounces of Gum Ivy in a gill of Spring water then mix these together in the like quantity of the Oyl of Sweet Almonds then take what quantity of Worms you intend to use that day first well scoured in Moss and put them in linnen Thrums first well washed in Spring water and squeez'd then wet the same Thrums in this Composition and put the Thrums and Worms into a Linnen bag and use them 10. Take Assa faetida 3 Drams Spikenard of Spain one Dram put them in a Pint of spring-Spring-water let them stand in a shady place 14 days in the ground then take it out and strain it through a linnen cloth and put to the liquor one Dram of Sperma Cati and keep it close in a strong glass Bottle and when you go to Angle take what quantity you intend to use that day of Worms first well scowrd in Moss and put them upon a pewter Sawcer and powr a little of this water upon them then put them in the Moss again and use them 11. Take Juyce of Camomil half a spoonful Chymical Oyl of Spike one Dram and Oyl of Comfrey by Infusion one Dram and an half Goose Grease two Drams these being well dissolved over the Fire let stand until cold then put it into a strong Glass Bottle which let be unstopt 3 or 4 days then stop it very well when you Angle anoint the same therewith 12. Take a handful of Housleek half a handful of inner green bark of the Ivy stalk pound these
strength and grow in season within a fortnight after spawning Barbel and Chub within a month Trout in 4 months and the Salmon in like time if he get into the Sea and after into fresh water 18. Angle always if you can on the Lee-shore and note that Fish lie or swim nearer the bottom and in deeper water in Winter than in Summer and also near the bottom in any cold day and then gets near the calm side of the water and in the Winter are caught best at the mid-time of the day and in Sun-shiny weather 19. When you put any living bait on the hook torment or bruise the same as little as possible that they may live long on the hook after baited 20. Let him that would be a compleat Angler spend some time in Angling in all sorts of waters Ponds Rivers swift and slow stony gravelly muddy chalky and slimy and observe all the differences in the nature of the Soils on which they run or stand and likewise the nature and humour of the Fish waters and baits and so he will become a perfect and judicious Artist and be able to take Fish whereever he Angleth and will find much difference between swift and slow Rivers Likewise let the Angler observe when he takes store of Fish the age of the Moon the temperature of the preceeding night and the darkness brightness or windiness of it season and nature of the morning and day together with the temperature of the air and water and all other precedent concomitant natural or adventitious advantages that could any ways conduce to his sport and enter them in a Book with the day of the month c. hereby with a little practice he 'l be able to raise Conclusions for the improvement of this Art 21. In all sort of Angling be sure to keep out of the Fishes sight and as far off the Rivers bank as possible 22. Several Countries alter the time and almost the manner of Fishes breeding but doubtless of their being in season as in the River Wye in Monmouthshire Salmon are in season from September to April but in the Thames and Trent and most other Rivers they are in season almost all the 6 hot months 23. Gather or get all forts of materials to make Angle Rods on as the Hasle Blackthorn Ewe c. at the Winter Solstice or at least between the last day of November and the 20 flay of December because all sort of Wood then is the most free from Sap it not ascending with that vigour from the root into the ball and branches by reason of the coldness of the â—eather and the Suns small stay on our Horizon which renders its influence feeble 24. Trouts Salmons Pikes Pearches and Eels have large mouths and their Teeth thereâ—n but most other Fish have their Teeth in â—heir Throat 25. You may much advantage your self in â—asting your Lines especially the artificial Fly â—ine by making the uppermost link or gildard â—o consist of 12 or 9 hairs and one or two hairs â—ess in the next link and so abate proportionaâ—ly in every Link until you come to the Hook it self by this means a very Bungler will cast a Fly well and if you chance to fasten your Hook and cannot come to loosen it you will not loose above one gildard or two at most though you pull to break it because the Line is so strong at the upper end CHAP. VIII Seasons generally improper for Angling 1. IN great droughts when the Rivers are small or in the heat of the day in Summer although there be no drought except cooled by Wind or shadowed by Clouds you 'l find small sport especially in marly chalky slimy or very shallow and clear waters 2. In cold frosty or snowy weather or where store of Snow brother is in the River it s to little purpose to Angle when there happeneth in the Summer or Spring especially any sinall hoary Frost all that day after the Fish will not rise kindly and freely except in the Evening and that prove pleasant 3. If the Wind either be Easterly or so high that you cannot guide your tools it s to little purpose to Angle for there is a secret malignity in the East Wind that generally abates the Fishes desire of baits and appetito 4. Sharp bitter nipping Winds blowing from the North but the East especially blast the recreation 5. After any sort of Fish have spawned they 'l not bite to any purpose until they have recovered their strength and former appetite 6. When any Clouds arise that will certainly bring a shower or storm though in the midst of Summer they will not bite and if they bit well before yet at the approach thereof they will cease biting 7. When the Nights prove dark cloudy or windy and that the Moon shines not at all next day there will be little or no sport except at small ones For Trouts and great Fish then range about to devour others and seek Food so that when the nights are dark or windy the next day rarely proves successful to the Angler for great Fish especially Trouts 8. In small clear and shallow Brooks where the Mills stand and keep up the water you will neither catch Fish at ground or fly at that time for Fish especially Trouts then dare not come out of their Hold. 9. When people wash their Sheep in Summer at the first time only Fish bite well because the Filth draweth them together as to a baiting place but after they have glutted themselves 4 or 5 days they will not bite again till washing time be over 10. Thunder and Lightning are very offensive and spoil the Anglers sport CHAP. IX Seasons generally proper for Angling 1. IN general esteem the best hours to Angle in betwixt the Equinoxes are from Sun-rising until half an hour after 10 a Clock and from 2 a Clock in the Afternoon until 6. 2. If the day be dark close and lowring or have a gentle whistling Wind playing on the water or a fine misling Dew of Rain falls gently without violence Fish will bite So when Trouts leap out of the water and Pikes shoot in pursuit of other Fishes they will bite well if you Angle with tackle and baits proper for the Season and Fish 3. Calm clear or which is far better cool cloudy weather in Summer the Wind blowing gently so as you may guide your Tools with ease in the hottest months the cooler the better 4. When a sudden violent shower hath a little mudded and raised the water then if you go forth immediately after such a shower and Angle at ground in the Stream or sides thereof with Brandling Gilt-tail Tag-tail or chiefly Red-worm well scowred if there be store of Fish you 'l have Sport to your own satisfaction 5. When Floods have carried away all the Filth that the Rain had washed from the higher grounds into the River and that the River keepeth his usual bounds and is of a Whey Chesnut
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
from 7 in the forenoon until after 10 a Clock and from about 2 in the afternoon till about 6 and sometimes later especially in hot weather and middle of Summer He is strong and will contend hard and long for his Life they accompany one another in Troops and if there be 30 or 40 in a hole they may at one standing be catcht one after another be sure you give him time to bite for he 's often mist for want of that Spawning time 3. He Spawns but once a year and that about February or March and carries his Teeth in his mouth which is large Baits 4. His principal Baits are Brandling Dew-worm and red-worm all to be well scowred and the Menow He also takes Bobs Oak-worms Gentles Cod-bait Wasps Colewort-worms and sometimes any Bait but the Fly which he never meddles with He 's best caught with a Float your bait being about 6 inches from the ground sometimes at mid-water or lower and some will suffer the bait to touch the ground especially the Worm and judge it best CHAP. XIV Observations on the Pope or Ruff. POPE or Russ is like the Pearch both in nature disposition and shape but lesser being no bigger than a large Gudgeon is a better Fish and pleasanter tasted than a Pearch a greedy biter and commonly abundance of them lie together in one reserved place where the water runs deep and quietly and one may catch 40 or 50 at a standing His bait is the small red-worm or Giltail and you are to use a float and bait to be about mid-water or lower CHAP. XV. Observations on the Gudgeon Haunts 1. OF Gudgeons the whitest are best he desires sandy gravelly gentle Streams and small Rivers rather than Brooks In the â—eat of the Summer they are usually scattered â—p and down in Companies in the shallows of every River but in Autumn when the Weeds begin to grow sower or rot and the weather colder then they gather together and retreat into the deeper parts of the River and are to be Fished for there with a Float and the bait must always touch or drag on the ground 2. They are a wholesom and pleasant Fish breed 3 or 4 times a year and always in Summer when you Angle for them in Shallows stir or rake the Sand or Gravel with a Pole and they 'l gather to that place and bite better Biting time and baits 3. He bites from March till Michaelmas in or near a gentle Stream but will not bite when very cold nor immediately after a shower or Land-flood but will bite well in hot weather his best baits are the Giltail or Brandling then a small red-worm and he 'l take Cod-bait Gentles or Wasps sometimes CHAP. XVI Observations on the Carp Haunts 1. CARP soeks mud and the deepest stilâ— lest place of Pond or River and greâ—â— weeds which he loves exceedingly If you cut weeds in a River the better to make a place clear to Angle in for Carps they will not although they before haunted the place very much come there again for 2 or 3 months nor will they come near a Boat that you go in on a large Pond or River to Angle in for them although Rushes or Weeds interpose they are so wary fearful and subtil therefore stiled the Fresh Water Fox and by others the Queen of Rivers Spawning time 2. They breed better in Ponds than Rivers but not at all in cold Ponds in others 4 or 5 times a year as their encrease is wonderful for their multitude so is their decay misterious all being often gone and none knows how they live 10 or 20 years and are better for Age and bigness and the largest is rarely above 18 inches long they are a sweet and soft Fish the Male better than the Female and the white better than the yellow and are at best in March and will live long out of water they begin to spawn at 3 years old they 'l feed on Grass in the Pond or sides thereof Biting time 3. They bite very early and late in April May June July and August and in the Summer all night in the still part of the water keep quiet and out of sight when you Angle for them when you strike him if you give him not play hell break all for he 's strong will struggle long and stoutly He 's caught at mid-water sometimes lower sometimes higher as the weather is and use always a float when a large Carp takes the Bait he runs to the farther side of the River Baits 4. Best baits for him are Gentles Flag-worm or Cod bait and all sorts of sweet Pasts then Marsh-worm or Giltail Mr. Walton advises to dip a piece of scarlet breadth of a Die in Oyl of Peter or the Rock and put it above the Hook having a bait of Gentles below CHAP. XVII Observations on the Tench Haunts 1. HIS Haunts and times of biting are the same generally with the Carp yet I have known them in April on a cloudy misting rainy morning the Wind South or West and warm bite very well until 11 a Clock He likes Ponds better than Rivers and Pits better than either in some Pits they breed only and never thrive to any bigness and in others they 'l thrive and never breed and like the Eel he loves muddy Ponds Spawning time 2. They Spawn about the beginning of July live long out of water and by some esteemed the Physitian to other Fish having a medicinal Balm on his skin their best Season is from the end of August until May day Biting time 3. Carp and Tench bite from Sun rise until 8 a Clock and from 4 in the afternoon until after Sun-set but in the hot months from Sun set all night Baits 4. Angle for them with a Float about 2 foot within water sometimes more sometimes less His best bait is Gentles Cod-bait Flag-worm Marsh worm and Red-worm well scowred and as you use your Worms put them by themselves in a little Tar a little before used only and try whether it advantages your Sport which many affirm it do's but I could never observe any advantage by it CHAP. XVIII Observations on the Bream Haunts 1. BReam is a large and stately Fish at full growth is dangerous to eat by reason of bones and is a kind of flat Carp Breeds both in Rivers and Ponds but in the latter better if he likes the Water and Air he 'l be very fat is long in growing yet a great breeder Some say Breams and Roches mix their Spawn together and so there becomes a Bastard breed of Breams they swim in Companies and he likes a gentle Stream and deepest and broadest part of a River or Pond He 's caught from Sun-rising till 8 a Clock in a muddy slimy water a good gale of Wind and in Ponds the higher the Wind and where the Waves are highest and nearer the middle of the Pond the better 3 a Clock and 4 in the afternoon are likewise good times to
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 Warp twitch off the superfluous hairs of your Dubbing leave the Wings of an equal length otherwise your Fly will never swim true and the Work is done thus you are to make the Dub-fly but your Palmer fly is made of a Capon or Cocks hackle twirled on Silk and warpt about the hook and without any Wings and sometimes a little Dubbing under Rules for Dub-flies and its Angling 1. In making Dub-sties chiefly observe and imitate the Belly of the Fly for that colour Fish most take notice of as being most in their eye and let the Wings of the Fly always be of an equal length else the Fly will not swim right and true 2. When you try how to fit the colour of the Fly wet the Dubbing lest you be mistaken for although when dry they exactly suit the colour of the Fly yet the water alters most colours and will make them brighter or darker 3. Always make your Dub-flies on a Sun-shine day and to know the exact colour of your Dubbing hold the same betwixt your eye and the Sun and you 'l far better discover the true colour of the Dubbing then only by looking on it in the hand in the house dark day or a shady place 4. Never let the tail of the Dub-fly descend lower than until you come to the bend of the hook and not into the hooks bent as they generally do in the South and so make very inartificial and unnatural Flies 5. When Trouts often shew themselves at your Fly and yet do not take it be assured that either the day or water is improper for Fly or which is far more probable your Dub-fly is not of the right colour of shape they then cover 6. Some always advise to Dub with Silk of the most predominant colour of the Fly but we generally dub Duns with yellow Silk and our Browns with red Silk and at September with Violet Silk or Horse-flesh coloured Silk 7. Flies made of the hair of Bears Hogs Squirrels tail Camels Dogs Foxes Badgers Cows Calves skins tewed abortive Calves and abortive Colts skins tewed out landish Cadows are more natural lively and keep colour better in the water then Flies made of Crewels and many sort of Worsted Stuffs which are of a dead and dull colour in the water 8. The feather got from the quill of a Shepstare Stare or Starlings wing is the best Feather generally to be used in dubbing and better than the Drake feather 9. The Stone fly the green-Drake Thorn-tree fly green tail Dun-cut yellow dun dan brown early bright brown later bright brown great dun little whirling dun great whirling dun Badger-fly Ant-fly black May-fly yellow May-fly Camlet-fly and the Palmer-fly Silver Hackle and Gold Hackle are Flies sufficieâ— to be furnished with the Hackles and the Stone-fly being the very ground of all Fly Angling 10. When you Angle with Dub-fly it must be in a River either clear or almost clear after Rain or in a Moorish River discoloured by Moss or Bogs or else in a dark cloudy day when a gentle gale of Wind moves the water but if the Wind be high yet so as you may guide your tools they will rise well in the plain Deeps and then and there you 'l commonly kill the best-Fish but if the Wind be little or none at all you must Angle in the swife Streams 11. Keep your Dub-fly in continual motion tho' the water or day be dark or wind blow otherwise tho Fish will discern and refuse it 12. Angling in Rivers discoloured by Rain or passing through Mosses or Bogs or if the water be dark or very full use a larger bodyed Fly than ordinary 13. If the water be clear and low use a small bodyed Fly with slender Wings 14. If the day be clear use a light coloured Fly with slender body and wings 15. In dark weather as well as dark water the Fly must be dark 16. As Summer approaches and water clears Flies generally are made smaller and brighter 17. When you Angle with Dub-fly your Rod should be no less than 5 yards and half long and the line twice so long unless the water be encumbred with Wood or Trees 18. Same advise for every Fly to have 3 one of a lighter colour another sadder and a third the exact colour of the natural Fly by which means you may the better adapt them to the colour of the Water and Sky 19. Fish rarely take the Dub-fly in any flow River whose bottom or ground is slime or mud for in great droughts Fish bite but little in any Rivers but nothing in slimy Rivers whose Mud is not cool'd by the swiftness of the Currant but in sandy gravelly stony or rapid Rivers you may catch Fish at that time 20. You must have a quick eye a nimble Rod and Hand and strike with the rising of the Fish or they find their mistake and putteth out the hook again others are of Opinion never to offer to strike a good Fish if he do not strike himself till first you see him turn his head after he has taken the Fly and then say they The tackle will not strain in striking if moderately you strike 21. When you cast the Fly wave the Rod with a small circumserence about your head else the Fly will be apt to jeck or snap off 22. When you see a Trout rise cast the Fly behind him and then gently draw it over his head and if of the right colour you scare him not he 's your own 23. In casting the Fly do it always before you so that the Fly may first fall upon the water otherwise it will scare the Fish and as little of the Line with it as possible and without circling the water though if the wind be stiff you will then be compelled to drown a great part of the line to keep the Fly in the water and endeavour to have the Wind on your back and Sun in your face if you can but the windings and turnings of the River will render that impossible 24. When you Angle in slow Rivers or still places with the Dub-fly cast your Fly ever cross the River and let it sink a little in the water and draw him gently back again so as you break not the water or raise any circles or motions thereon and let the current of the River carry the Fly gently down with the Stream and this is the best way in slow slimy bottom Rivers for the Dub-fly 25. Stand always as far off the bank as the line will give leave for to Fish fine and far off is the great Rule in Fly Angling 26. In Frost and Snow or excessive cold weather in the Spring Angle with the smallest Gnats Browns and Duns you can make 27. For stony clear crystalline Rivers Flies generally are made with slender body and wings but in dark discoloured and full waters the contrary 28. When you know not certainly what Fly is taken or cannot see Fish rise then put on a small Hackle
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
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
evermore in a clear rather then troubled water and always up the Stream and Rivers still casting out the worm before you with a light one handed rod 5 yards and a half long at the least like an artificial Fly where sometimes it will be taken at the top or within a very little of the superficies of the water and commonly before the light plumb can sink it to the bottom both by reason of the Stream and that you must always keep your hand in a motion although slowly by drawing still back towards you as if you were Angling with a Fly The Rod must be light pliant long true and finely made and its the best way of Angling for Trout Grayling and Salmon smelts with Worms in a clear water but others had rather use with like Tackle and Worm Ash-grub or Dock-worm a float of Cork for a Grayling because he takes his bait best 6 or 9 inches from the ground now if your Constitution would endure to wade into the tail of a shallow Stream and so keep off the bank you may almost take what Trouts or Graylings you can desire CHAP. XXVIII Float ANGLING Float Angling 1. FOR Float Angling your Line is to be longer than rod by 2 or 3 foot in a River but shorter than Rod in Pits Ponds and Mears When you Angle for Trout or Grayling in a clear water then but one hair next hook and such a Rod and Line as is directed for a Trout with Running Line in a clear water but for most other Fish and in a muddy water three hairs at least next hook and of the thickness as before is directed cap. 2. sect 14. and 17. and let it be leaded as is directed cap. 3. sect 10 11 12. 2. The bait must be proper for the Fish you Angle for your Plumbs sitted to the Cork your Cork to the condition of the River that is to the swiftness or flowness of it vid. before cap. 3. sect 5.6 7 8. and 9. and you must cast the bait up the River and let it run downward as far as the Rod and Line will suffer In a clear water when you use worms bait but with one in a muddy or discoloured water bait with 2 Worms at a time as is before directed 3. This way you may Angle for most sort of Fish and the bait must drag on the ground for some sorts especially the Trout Gudgeon Bream Barbel Flounder and Salmon but for Grayling and Poarch 6 or 9 inches from the bottom but the Pike Ruff Carp Tench Roch Dace Bleak at mid-water sometimes lower and sometimes higher the Chub is often taken at the bottom sometimes at mid-water in hot weather sometimes at top some let the bait touch the ground for Pearch Tench Roch and Dace especially in Rivers and like it best although others disallow thereof Mr. Cotton directs to Angle for a Trout with Float as near the bottom one can so as the bait drag not which is dishcult if not impossible to be observ'd by reason of the declivity of the bottom and unevenness thereof in most places and the experiment of the running line shews that a Trout will take the bait at bottom well enough The Eel is never to be Angled for with a float but always with the ledger bait singling or bobbing 4. Let your Lead neither be so heavy as to sink the Cork nor so light as not with the smallest touch to make the Cork dip under water the infallible signal of a bite unless the bait stop on Wood Stones or Weeds or the line be entangled CHAP. XXIX Angling at top with a Worm FOR this way you must use a Line longer than the Rod and a Brandling or a Giltail Worm without Float or Lead Drawing your bait up and down the Stream at top as you do a Cod-bait for Trout In a clear water and day perhaps you may thus take more Trouts and Salmon smelts than otherwise CHAP. XXX Night-Angling 1. IN the night usually the best Trouts bite and will rise ordinarily in the still deeps but not so well in the Streams and although the best and and largest Trouts bite in the night being afraid to stir in the day time yet I account this way of Angling both unwholsom unpleasant and very ungentile and to be used by none but idle pouching fellows therefore I shall say nothing of it only describe how to lay night-hooks which if you live close by a River side or have a large Moat or Pond at your own house will not be unpleasant sometimes to practice but as for damming groping spearing hanging twitchling firing by night and netting I will purposely omit them and them esteem to be used only by disorderly Fellows for whom this little Treatise is not in the least intended How to lay Night Hooks 2. Let him that would lay night hooks procure a small Cord 16 yards long and thereunto at equal distances tye 5 or 6 Hemp lines of the thickness of a trowling line 2 foot long a piece but tye them so to the Cord as you may easily remove or put them to again to each of which whip a hook and bait the same with a Menow Loach or Bulhead his Gill-sins cut off or for want of them a small Gudgeon small Roch or seven eyes and put the point of the hook in at the tail and out at the mouth the head of the Fish resting in the hooks bent and cover the point of the hook with a small worm and then to one end of the Cord fasten a stone or lead weight and throw it cross the River in some still deep or at the tail of a Stream that 's deep and the other end fasten to some Bough or stick on the water bank you stand on and in the morning you 'l not fail to find Fish caught This way you 'l take Eels Chubs large Trouts and Pike but if you lay for Pike let not your bait go to the bottom but with a float keep it from the bottom about a foot for the other Fish let the bait touch the bottom which Lead will cause Your great Lob-worm is as good a bait as any for night-hooks only if you lay them in Rivers perhaps the small Fish may pull your bait off and miss being taken CHAP. XXXI Observations on Mid-water or Ground-Angling 1. WHen you Angle with Running Line which is always to be without any float keep your Line so streight that it only permit your Lead to touch the ground and thereon rowl and no more so in float Angling keep your Line as streight as possible suffering â—one of it to fall or lye in the water but what is â—â—evitable because it as well scares Fish as hinâ—ers the nimble jerk of the Rod when you strike â—ut if as sometimes you cannot avoid but some â—ittle will lye in the water then keep it in the Stream above the float by no means below it â—nd let your bait always fall gently into the water without