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-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
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
take them He Spawns in June or beginning of July is easily taken for after one or two gentle turns he falls on one side and so is drawn to Land with case Baits His baits are Red-worm and Giltails well scowred Paste Flag-worm Wasps a Grashopper his Legs cut oft and Flies under water when he bites he 'l draw the bait towards the farther fide of the River Angle with a Float and let the bait touch the ground CHAP. XIX Observations on the Barbel Haunts 1. BArbel in Summer lives in the strongest swifts of the water and under the shades of Trees they much delight in the shallowest and sharpest Streams and lurk under weeds feeding on Gravel against a rising ground where he 'l root and dig in the Sand with his Nose like a Hog and there nests himself yet sometimes he lies about deep and swift waters at Bridges Floodgates or Weirs where he 'l remain among Piles or hollow places and the swiftness of the water is not able to force him thence at the approach of Winter he forsakes the swift Streams and shallow waters and by degrees retires to those parts of the River that are quiet and deep Spawning time 2. He 's none of the best Fish either for wholsomness or taste they Spawn about April and the Spawn is very unwholsom almost Poyson grow in season about a month after Spawning Biting time 3. Bites early in the morning until 10 a Clock and late in the evening from the end of May all June July and August and is a cunning wary subtil and strong Fish will struggle long and unless dexterously managed breaks both Rod and Line they flock together like Sheep and are at worst in April Baits 4. His baits must be sweet clean well scowred and not kept in musty sowr Moss and his bait must touch the ground and to be Angled for with a Float His prime baits are Gentles not too much scowred so is new Cheese Pasts Red-worm and Dew-worm well scowred he 'l often nibble or suck the bait off the Hook and yet avoid the Hooks coming into his mouth CHAP. XX. Observations on the Roch Dace or Dare. Haunts THey like Gravel and Sand and the deepest part of the River under shades of Trees are Fish of no great esteem very simple become in Season within 3 weeks after Spawning the Dace or Dare Spawn about the middle of March and the Roch about the middle of May he 's called the Fresh Water Sheep for his Simplicity and is caught in Ponds within 2 foot or less of the top but the Dace should have his bait within 6 inches of the bottom and sometimes to touch the bottom best baits for them are the Earth bob Gentles Cod-bait Clap-bait Oak worm and the Fly especially the Ant Fly but within the water and any Worm bred on Herbs or Trees as Hawthorn-worm Colewort and Cabbage-worm Paste Sheeps-blood Lip-berries Grain Wasps and small white Snails c. Angle for them in Ponds under water Dock leaves they will likewise take Giltails and Brandlings especially if the water be discoloured with Rain CHAP. XXI Observations on the Chub or Chevin Nature and Spawning time of the Chub. CHub is no good Fish timorous although large must be eaten the same day he 's caught his Head is the best part of him his Spawn is good and he Spawns in March and becomes in Season a month after Spawning and is in season from Mid-May until after Candlemas but his best season is Winter Haunt 2. He likes sandy and clay bottoms large Rivers and Streams shaded with Trees in Summer you 'l find many together in a hole sometimes floating on the top of the water they may be then caught by dibbing and in hot weather he 's caught near the mid-water or top in colder weather nearer the bottom or aâ— bottom by a Ledger bait that is when the bait rests on the ground in a certain or firm place Biting time 3. They bite from Sun-rising until 8 a Clock and from 3 in the Afternoon till Sun set After struck he quickly yields if a large one but the lesser struggle briskly and longer Baits 4. He 'l take almost any fort of bait but his best baits are seven eyes and Eel brood each about thickness of a Straw also the Red-worm and Dew-worm well scowred the Earth-bob and brains of an Ox or Cow Cheefe Paste and the Pith or Marrow of an Ox or Cows back bone tenderly and carefully take off the outward tough skin and be sure you leave the inward and tender white skin fase and untouched or your labour is lost which are very good baits for the cooler months In the hot months he takes all sort of baits bred on Trees or Herbs especially the Oak-worm Crab-tree worm Palmers Catterpillars Cod-baits Gentles the young brood of Wasps Horners and Humble Bees Beetles their Legs cut off Dores Grashoppers Clap-baits white Snails and black Snails their belly slit that the white appear these Snails he takes very early in the morning but not in the heat of the day He likewise takes Lip-berries Colewort worm Cabbage-worm Fern fly and likewise a Moth with a great head like an Owl with whitish wings and a yellow body they fly abroad in Summers evenings in Gardens he loves a large bait as a Wasp and a Colewort worm and then a Wasp all on the hook at a time and he would have divers fort of Flies on at once and a Fly and a Cod-bait or Oak-worm together He 'l likewise take the great brown fly which lives on an Oak like a scarabe How to Fish for him 5. He 's caught by a Float at mid water or lower at top by dibbing and at bottom by a ledger bait when Cattel in Summer come into the Fords their Dung draweth Fish into the lower end thereof at such time Angle for Chub with tackle and baits suitable and you 'l have Sport Take off the Beetles legs and uppermost Wings when you use him CHAP. XXII Observations on the Eel Their Kinds 1. THere are four forts of Eels the Silver Eel the greenish Eel the blackish Eel which hath a broader flatter and larger head then ordinary and the Eel with red Fins the blackish Eel is the worst They live about 10 years and after they get into the Sea they never return They are always in season and the older the better They are impatient of cold for in the 6 cooler months they stir not up and down neither in Rivers or Ponds but get into the soft earth or mud and there many of them bed themselves together they seldom stir in the day time unless the water be mudded and raised a little by rain but is most usually caught in the night Haunts 2. In the day time they hide themselves under some covert roots of Trees Stocks Stones Boards or Planks about Floodgates Weirs Bridges or Mills or in holes in the Rivers bank they are a pleasant and delicate Fish and one may easily
Surfeit on them their best season is Winter although they be always very good Baits 3. Best baits are the Dew-worm Red-worm and Lamprey that 's very small Menow Loach 〈◊〉 very small Gudgeon and small Roch a Hen â—r Chickens Gut the Dew-worm Red-worm â—nd small Lamprey are proper for him either 〈◊〉 the day or night but the rest are to be used with night-hooks only as also is Beef or Horse-flesh and sometimes in the day time an Eeâ— will take the young brood of Wasps Ways of catching Eels 4. He 's caught in the day time by a ledgeâ— bait by singling or brogling and bobbing anâ— by night with laying of night-hooks Singling or brogling for Eels 5. Brogling or Singling is thus performed get an exceeding strong and long line and 〈◊〉 small compassed Hook baited with a well scoâ—red red worm hold one end of the line in youâ— hand then place the upper end of your hooâ— very easily in the cleft of a long Hasle stick thaâ— it may easily slip out With this stick and hooâ— thus baited search for holes under Stone Timber Roots or about Floodgates or Weirâ— and put the bait leasurely therein If there 〈◊〉 a good Eel give her time and she 'll take it bâ—â— be sure she hath swallowed it then very lâ—â—â— surely draw her out Bobbing for Eels 6. Bobbing for Eels is thus Take the laâ—gest Garden worms well scowred and with Needle run a strong Thread through the from end to end take and use so many as last you may wrap them slackly about your hand a dozen times at least then tye them fast with the two ends of the thread that they may hang in so many long boughts or hanks then fasten all to a small strong Cord and something more than a handful above the Worms tye the Cord on a knot then get a Lead Plumb 3 quarters of a pound weight shaped like a Pyramid and bore a hole through the middle of this Lead from end to end The knot on the Cord should be about 6 inches distant from the Worms so as the Cord may easily pass to and fro then put the upper end of the Cord through the Plumb the thicker end of the Plumb being downwards and let the Plumb rest on the knot above the Worms then six the upper end of the Cord which should not be above 2 yards long to a strong and long Pole Thus prepared Angle in a muddy water and you 'l feel Eels tug strongâ—y at them when you think they have swallowed them as far as they can gently draw up your Worms and Eels and when you have them near top of the water hoise them amain to Land and thus you may take 3 or 4 at once and good ones too if store there be These 2 ways of Singling and Bobbing are proper only to Eels no other Fish being to be caught so CHAP. XXIII Observations on the Pike Nature of Pike 1. HE 's a better Fish than the Carp but a great devourer of other Fish whereby he acquires the name of Fresh Water Tyrant or Wolf He 's long lived as to live 20 or 30 years others say but 10 the Eel and Carp are better for Age so is not the Pike the middle size are best his bites are venomous he always swims by himself and not in company he breeds but once a year and that in February or March he 's a bold and greedy biter and is not afraid of a shadow or seeing people His Haunt 2. He loves sandy or clay bottoms still Pools full of fry and shelters the better to surprise his Prey unawares himself amongst Bulrushes Water Docks or Bushes and often he bites about the middle of the River and always about mid water the bait generally being in a continual gentle motion biting-Biting-time 3. In April May June and beginning of July he bites best early in the morning and late in the evening and seldom to any purpose in the night of all the year at 3 a Clock in the afternoon in July August September and October in a clear water and a gentle Gale in still places or a gentle Stream In September and all Winter months he bites all the day long especially about 3 in the afternoon the water being clear the day windy Baits 4. He takes all sort of baits except Fly but his principal baits are Gudgeons Roches Daces Menows Loaches young Frogs and Salmon smelts that are small fresh sweet and well fastned on the hook for they are very tender so is a young Trout young Jack Pearch his â—ack Fins cut off and a piece of an Eel good â—aits likewise for the Pike 5. He 's caught 4 manner of ways viz. by a Ledger bait by Snap Snare and Trowling of all which you 'l see hereafter in this book â—ut however procure some Angler the first â—ime you Angle to accompany and shew you he way CHAP. XXIV Observations on the Flook or Flounder FLOOK or Flounder is a Sea Fish which wanders far into fresh Rivers and there dwells and loses himself thriving to an hands bredth and almost twice so long is a pleasant Fish and makes the Angler great Pastime and although greedy biters yet crafty for they will nibble and suck at a bait some time before they swallow it and if they perceive the hook fly from it therefore let your bait be alway in motion and it will make them more eager they commonly lie in the deepest and stillesâ— place of the River and near the bank and iâ— a gentle Stream that is brackish His best baiâ— are small red-worm and especially the Meadow or Marsh-worm well scowred your baiâ— touching the ground and the young brood 〈◊〉 Wasps CHAP. XXV Observations on the Bleak BLeak is no wholsom Fish because in Summer they go mad by reason of a Worm in their Stomachs but the Sea-bleak is a good Fish He 's a very eager bitor and you may Angle for him with as many hooks on your line as you can conveniently fasten on it He takes Gentles the best and likewise the same baits that Roch does but they must be lesser also the Dub-fly which should be of a very sad brown colour and small and the hook so too he 's caught at mid-water or top he is almost always in motion The Variatae or Sea-bleak thanges its colour with every Light and Object having firm and wholsom Flesh and is as good as any Carp and it s called the Sea-Camelion CHAP. XXVI Observations on the Menow Loach and Bullhead or Millers Thumb Menow THese Fish are of little consideration only sometimes they are caught to make baits on for other Fish else they are only Women and Childrens Sport The Minnow appears first in March and continues until Michaelmas and then betakes himself to the mud weeds or wood in Rivers to secure himself from Floods devouring Trouts and other Fishes of Prey He least frequents deep still places or holes where Trouts or great Fish ply neither stirs in
sizes and let the Cork be so poised with Lead on the Line that the Quill which is in it being almost 2 inches long will swim upright and so equally ballanced with the Lead that the least bite or nibble will sink the Cork Leading Lines 10. For leading Lines I account the small round pellet or Lead-shot best especially for stony Rivers and running Line let it be cloven and neatly closed about your Line and let not above two plumbs be on the Line at once an inch and a half or two inches distant from each other and the lowmost plumb 9 inches distant from the Hook for a running Line either in a clear or muddy water but a foot of hook for a float line but if the River run on a sandy bottom and be full of Wood with few Stones Plumbs or Lead in shape of a Diamond or of a Barley Corn or of an Oval form is best the ends smooth and close laid down either for a muddy water or float Angling many when they Angle amongst weeds place their Lead on the shank of the hook and conceive it not so apt to entangle on them 11. When you Angle with the running line let the line have as much Lead as will fit the Stream and River in which you Angle and no more viz. more in a great trouble some water than in a smaller that is quieter as near as may be so much as will sink the Bait to the bottom and will keep it still in motion and no more This Rule is also to be observed in float Angling in Rivers Some cover their Lead on float Line with Shoo-makers Wax as thin as may be 12. As the day encreases your pellet or plumb may be lesser for that will carry readily at 5 a Clock in the morning at running line which will sink and fasten the Line at 9 a Clock for in droughts Rivers generally abate as heat encreases Lead Plummet 13. In a Pistol Bullet make a hole through it and put therein a strong Thread twisted and when occasion is hang this on the hook to try the depth of the River or Pond especially when you Angle with the float and the Bait is to be near the bottom or but just touch it Whetstone 14. Procure a little Whet-stone about two inches long one quarter of an inch square which is far better to whet or sharpen Hooks on than a File though never so fine or good for it either will not touch a well-temper'd hook or leave it rough but not sharp and we always to avoid the fretting of the hair by the Hook smooth all the Hook upon a Whetstone from the inside to the back of the Hook slope-ways 15. Get a Case made of red Leather like a Comb Case with 12 or 14 partitions therein made of the finest thin Parchment with a flap to cover over the edges to prevent loosing any thing out of them in the several partitions keep Hooks ready whipt to Lines of 2 or 3 gildards in length and leaded likewise spare links lines of all sorts silk of all sorts and colours hair and single strong hairs hooks These Cases contain much and lye in a small room in the Pocket in one of these Cases you may put all your tackle ready fixt for the running line in muddy and clear water in another all the tackle for the ground Angling with sloat in another the Angling tackle for great Fish as Chub Barbel great Salmon in another which must be made large your Angling tackle for Pike so that when you Travel from home you may Angle any where for most sorts of Fish at ground if you carry but a good Rod with you made of Hazel and the pieces put into each other and will serve for a walking staff which you may buy ready made in London and other places How to keep Cod-baits c. 16. Bags of Linnen and Woollen to keep and carry all sorts of Baits in also a piece of Cane with holes bored therein to keep Catterpillars Palmers Woolbeds natural Flies and Bobs in a Horn for Gentles Boxes of divers fizes to carry Hooks Silk Lead Thread Corks floats of Quills Shoo-makers Wax Dub-flies and also have a sharp Pen Knife The following way is esteemed a Secret and the best way to carry and keep Cod-baits Catterpillars Clap-bait natural Flies and Oak-worm in for to give Cod-baits water is soon to rot them because they are as well kept in a piece of withy Bark that some of them will live therein to be turned to Flies 't is thus Cut a round bough of fine green barkt Withy about the thickness of half ones Arm and taking the Bark clear off about a foot in length turn both ends together from the middle and let them enfold within each other and then tie it with a string on the top and stop it with a Cork or piece of Stick in this put the aforesaid Baits and every Night lay it in the Grass and use it next day or let it lie until you have occasion for them the Dew preserves them and makes them scour and thrive thus you may keep Cod-baits Grasshopers c. for the moisture of the Bark contributes much to their preservation but bore small holes in it for their better respiration notwithstanding the Bark is very porous Landing Net 17. Have a small long Pole made with a loop at the end like a water-noose to which fasten a small Net to Land great Fish without which you will be in danger to loose them but if you Angle for Pike Barbel Chevin get a large Hook called a Landing Hook with a serew at the end to skrew into a socket sixed at the end of a long Pole to strike into the mouth or any part of the Fish to draw them to Land You may also fit to the same socket and pole 2 other hooks one sharp to cut Weeds away the other to pull out Wood. Panier 18. Let the Panier be light made of peel'd Willow Twigs neatly wrought Materials for the Angler to carry with him 19. Carry with you all sorts of Hooks Lines Links ready twisted Hair Silk of divers colours small but strong Thread Leads Plumets Floats of all sorts and sizes Shoo-makers Wax Pen-knife Whet-stone Line Cases Worm-bags Boxes Hooks ready fixt to Lines of 2 or 3 gildards or lengths Rod Baits Flies Panier Dubbing bag Horn for Gentles a small but sharp pair of Scissors CHAP. IV. Of BAITS 1. HAving instructed our Angler with what Tackle to be accoutred the next Discourse directs him how to find order manage keep and preserve all sorts of natural Baits First he is to observe that Earth worms are a general Bait for all sorts of Fish whatsoever and that they and Gentles continue in season the whole Year the Earth-bob from Martynmas until almost May-day and the Cowturd-bob from May-day until Michaelmas Flies Palmers or Wool-beds Catterpillars Cod-bait Worms bred on Herbs or Trees as the Oak-worm c. all Summer and know
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
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-Biting-time 3. Salmons best biting time is 9 a Clock in the forenoon and 3 in the afternoon in a clear water and when some wind bloweth against the Stream when struck he usually falleth to plunge and leap but does not ordinarily endeavour to run to the end of the Line as the Trout will young Salmons are very tender mouthed Baits 4. For a great Salmon the principal ground bait is the Dew-worm well scowred and for the small Salmon smelt about bigness of a Trout the Brandling and Gilt-tail are the best ground baits They will likewise take exceeding well the Bob of both sorts the Cod-bait and Waterlowse and the counterfeit Cod-bait also in clear water For Flyes he takes the same that the Trout generally doth whether natural or artificial but the natural bait he generally takes better than the artificial fly especially by the small ones If you put a Cod-bait or Gentle either natural or artificial but natural better at point of your dub-fly hook they will take the dub-fly better especially the Salmon smelt Flyes made for the great Salmon are better being made with 4 wings than with 2 only and with 6 better than with them of 4 and if behind each pair of Wings you place a different colour for the body of the Fly it is much the better which argues that he loves to have several Flys on the hook at once for the Fly looketh as if it were divers Flies together The Wings must be made standing one behind the other whether 4 or 6 also he delights to have both body and wings of the most gaudy colour with long wings and tails Silver twist and Gold twist are good to use in dubbing the bodies he 's caught at ground with running line or float the bait touching or as near the ground as possible and sometimes he bites well lower than mid-water at ground baits He 's caught with dub fly and the Cod-bait Clap-bait water-Cricket and the counteifeit Cod-bait at top of the water CHAP. XII Observations on the Umber or Grayling Haunt and Season 1. UMber and Grayling disser only in name they delight in marl clay clear waters swift Streams and far from the Sea Dove Trent and Derwen in the Counties of Derby and Stafford are best stored with them of any Rivers in England the biggest is not above 18 inches long they are in Season all the year but their principal Season is December at which time he 's black about head gills and down his back and has his belly of a dark grey dapled with black spots his Flesh even in his worst Season is firm and will easily calver and is excellent meat at all times but when at best little inferiour to the best Trout He 's a very nimble Fish swist swimmer but dead hearted after hooked has his Teeth in his Throat is eager and biteth freely and will often bite at the same fly if not prickt he 's tender mouth'd and often lost by breaking hold 2. When you Angle for him within water his bait by no means must drag on the ground he being a Fish that usually swims nearer the middle of the water and lies always loose and more apt to rise than descend even to a ground bait therefore let your bait be about 6 or 9 Inches from the bottom and use a float of Cork rather than a running line if you Angle particularly for this Fish but if for Trout and Grayling then a running line Baits 3. His principal ground baits are Brandling Giltail Tag-tail Cod-bait Bark-worm and Flag-worm and at top he 's taken either with the natural or artificial Palmers and Flies especially the Camlet Fly and a Fly made of light tawny hair Camlet as the Trouts are CHAP. XIII Observations on the Pearch Haunt 1. HE loves a gentle Stream of a reasonable depth seldom shallow close by a hollow bank and although Salmon Trout and Pearch delight in clear and swift Rivers stony gravelly and green weeds yet Pearches are sometimes found but not in such plenty and goodness in slow stimy and muddy Rivers as about Oxford and he frequents Creeks and hollownesses about the banks He 's a very excellent good wholesom and well casted Fish especially the River Pearch a bold biter ravenous and great devourer of other Fish of flow growth and not usually above 14 inches and oftener about 10 or under Biting-time 2. He 'l not bite at all Seasons being very abstemious in Winter only in the middle of the day as other Fishes then do he 'l then bite in Summer he biteth all the day long in cool cloudy or windy weather yet principally
the night nor in dark windy weather for fear of becoming a Prey to the Trouts and other Fish his most usual time is from an hour after Sun-rising if the day prove fair till an hour before Sun-set His baits are chiefly small Worms Giltail Brandling Cod-bait c. and is caught either at mid-water or near or close to the bottom Loach and Bulhead Loach is a pleasant Fish breeding and seeding in clear swift Brooks or Rills living in the sharpest Streams and on the Gravel and often under Stones he something resembles an Eel in shape and both Loach and Bullhead being of one nature and humour their Female are in Summer often full of Spawn they are always caught on the bottom the bait touching the ground and their best bait is the small red-worm and giltail The Menow Loach and Bullhead his Gill fins cut off are very good baits for the Trout in March April and September and for the Pike and Pearch all the year and for the Eel from March till Michaelmas to bait night hooks therewith CHAP. XXVII Various ways of Angling and of the Running Line ALL sorts of Fish take baits at the ground sometimes although all will not take the fly at top of the water and the Running Line without any float thereon is the most proper way How to Angle with the Running Line in a muddy water 1. The running Line in a muddy water or one discoloured by Rain should be half length of Rod and the two lowmost links of 3 hairs a piece then one of 4 hairs at top whereof have a loop or waternoose to put it to another link of four hairs having likewise a water-noose or loop at bottom and then proceed with 5 and 6 to the topmost the 3 lowmost gildards should be of a Sorrel Brown or Chesnut colour and have a Cane-rod with a top neither too stiff nor too slender but in a mean and 5 yards and a half long at least 2. The Line should have so much and no more Lead than will fit the water you Angle in viz. more in a great troublesom rough River than in a smaller that's quieter as near as may be so much as will sink the bait to the bottom and permit its motion without any great hesitation and in Angling carry the top or point of the Rod even with your hand gently downwards for you must begin at the head of the Stream the Lead dragging and rowling on the ground no more of the Line being in the water then will permit the Lead to touch the bottom for you must keep the Line as streight as possible yet by no means so as to raise the Lead from the ground and when they have bit you 'l both feel and perceive by the point of your Rod and Line and strike gently and streight upwards first allowing the Fish by a little flackning the Line a small time to take the bait But some strike at the first biting but that is in a clear water for Trouts or Salmon smelts which may do well Your bait should be a red-worm well scowred or which is better a Brandling or Tagtail or which I like best both a Brandling and a Giltail on the hook at same time to be baited as is hereafter directed to bait two worms to be on the hook at once and note that you are often to renew your bait and generally in a muddy water I Angle with two Worms on the hook at once as 2 Brandlings 2 Meadow-worms or a Brandling and Giltail on the hook at once when I Angle for Trouts unless I use the Dew-worm a Trout takes the bait dragging on the ground but a Grayling 9 or 12 inches from the bottom and had rather rise than descend even to a ground bait As for the Leading of the running Line with Plumbs you are before taught at chap. 3. sect 10.11 12. To bait a great Dew-Worm 3. If you Angle for a great Trout with a well scowred Dew-Worm in a muddy water or a water discoloured by Rain bait it thus viz. way to Angle for the Trout with Worm either in a muddy or clear water at ground put the hook in him towards the tail somewhat above the middle and out again a little below towards the head then draw him above the whipping or arming of the hook then put the point again into the head of the Worm till it come near the place where the point of the hook first came out then draw back that part of the Worm that was above the shank or arming of the hook and so Fish with it the Hook should be pretty large How to bait Worms 4. But if you Angle in a muddy water for Trouts of the usual size then have 2 Brandlings or two Meadow-worms or a Brandling and Giltail on the hook at once and you are to bait them thus viz. run the point of the hook in at the very head of the Brandling and so down through his body till it be past the knot and then let it out and strip the Worm above the whipping that you bruise it not with your fingers till you have put on the other by running the point of the hook in below the knor and upwards through his body towards the head till it be just covered with the head which being thus done slip the first worm over the arming again till the knots of both worms meet together Any 2 Worms may be thus baited How to bait a single Worm proper for running line in a clear water 5. But if you Angle with one Worm only on the hook which is most proper for a Trout Salmon Smelt or Grayling in a clear water it is to be baited thus viz. put the point of the hook in at the top of his tail and run up his body quite over all the whipping or arming and still strip on almost an inch upon the hair the head and remaining part hanging downwards and covering the point of the hook but some let the head hang downwards and the point of the hook to be bare and so Angle with it But others cover the point of the hook with the Worms head as aforesaid but nip off the very tip end of the Worms head and so Angle with it How to Angle in clear water with running Line 6. Thus you are to bait the Brandlings or Giltail and onely one to be on the hook at a time well scowred your hook being small your lines should have 2 or 3 of the lower most links or gildards to be of one hair a piece then one or two links of 2 hairs a piece and then one of 3 hairs and so proceed with 3 and 4 to the topmost link the hair should be white or rather a duskish white or grey colour and the line 2 yards shorter than rod generally Vid. before cap. 2. sect 12.15 and leaded with a small pellet of shot for plumb vid. cap. 3. sect 10.11 12. thus tackled and baited Angle always in the Streams
hook hang a foot short of the water to the end you may rest your Rod on some Bush or Bough of a Tree and the Chub in all probability will sink down towards the bottom of the water at first sight or shadow of the Rod and would so do if a Bird fly over him yet presently rises to the top again soaring there till frighted again by some shadow look out the best moving your Rod as gently as a Snail to that you intend to catch let your bait fall gently on the water 5 or 6 inches before him and he 'l seldom refuse the bait you may Angle thus with Catterpillars Oak-worm Ash-fly and Cod-bait Clap-bait Crab-tree-worm Wasps young Humble Bees Fern-flyes Grashopper Beetles c. and have 2 or 3 sorts of bait on at once as a Fern-fly Clap-bait or Wasp and if on side of a Stream let the bait sink a foot Rules for Dibbing 1. You may Dib with the Green-Drake both in Streams and Stills all hours of the day but the Stone-fly is most proper for the Streams only and that early and late and not in the mid-time of the day but if there be a whistling Wind in the evening Dib in the still deeps with an artificial Stone-fly where and when it will murder and the best Fish then and there rise no matter how late so you can see the Fly 2. When you bait any sort of Fly let your Fingers be dry and nor wet or moist lest you spoil the Fly especially if tender 3. Keep out of sight if possible for to Fish fine and far off is the great rule in all manner of Fly Angling for if a Fish be coming towards a Fly and perceive one he 'l turn short therefore keep your Fly gently moving on top of the water as if it were alive your self out of sight 4. When you Dib for Chub Roch Dace move not the Fly swiftly when you see the Fish coming towards it but rather after one or two short and flow removes suffer the Fly to glide gently with the current towards the Fish or if in a standing or very slow water draw the Fly flowly not directly upon him but slopeing and sideways by him which will make him more eager least it escape him for if you move it nimbly and quick they will not being Fish of flow motion follow as the Trout will 5. When Chub Roch and Dace shew themselves on the top of the water on a Sun-shine day they are easily caught with baits proper for them and you may almost choose from amongst them which you please to take 6. Chub Roch and Dace sometimes take an artificial fly with a Cod-bait Oak-worm or a Clap-bait at point of the hook and the Oak-worm when they shew themselves is full as good on the top of the water as under or then the Fly it self and more desired by them 7. Trouts Graylings and Salmon Smelts will take an Artificial Fly very well at Dibbing particularly best the Green-Drake and likewise the Stone-fly early or late in the evening and if you could but hit the colour of the Oak-fly aright and joyn a Cod-bait either natural or artificial there would be no need of the natural Oak-fly if you Dib for Salmon smelts with the Dub-fly put on a Cod-bait Clap-bait or Gentle at point of the hook 8. In a calm you will not have so much sport even with Dibbing as in a whistling gale of Wind both because you then are not so easily discover'd by the Fish and also then but few Flies can lye on the water for where they have so much choice they will not be so eager and forward to rise at a bait that both the shadow of your body rod nay very line in a hot calm day will in spite of your best caution render suspected to them but even then in swift Streams with the Green-Drake or Stone-fly by sitting patiently behind a bush you may do execution 9. All Fish take the Fly sometimes best on top of the water at another time much better a little under the superficies of the water therefore if they will not rise at the top try them a little under but Chub Roch and Dace will frequently take the Fly within water 10. Fish never eagerly rise at any Fry until that kind come to the Rivers side which all Flies do before they die to moisten their wings and from the bushes and herbs skip and play upon the water where they are snapt up by the Fish 11. To know what Flies Fish take beat on the Bushes on the Rivers bank and see what Fly falls and Fish take best and that use vid. cap. 7 sect 11. cap. 4. sect 35. CHAP. XXXIV Artificial Fly Angling NOW I shall treat of artificial Dab-fly or Cast-fly Angling for so it s stiled in several places and herein I find it no small difficulty by written directions perfectly altho' I shall attempt it to teach any tho as ingenious as may be how to make an artificial or dub-fly therefore the best and readiest way is to procure some skilful Fly Angler to let you see one made and by observing the following Rules and then your own Experience and Observations in a short time will make you a perfect Artist The great difficulty is to obtain the right colour of the Fly Fish then take which none can make a general description of because several Rivers and Soils produce several and divers Flies as the Mossy and Boggy have one sort particular to them the Clay Gravelly and Mountainous Country and Rivers others and the mellow light Soil disterent from them all but much earlier in some places than others nay in Wales and other Countreys there are peculiar Flies proper to the particular place and Country And my own Experience has abundantly satisfied me that almost in every River the Flies vary in colour kind shape or proportion and that in all places the same Flies are taken much earlier in some Rivers and Years than others nay in the very same River and Year I have known the Stone-fly taken a month earlyer at 5 or 6 miles distance lower than higher up the same River therefore the Angler having observed and found the Fly Fish most affect at the very present time let him make one as like it as possibly he can in colour shape and proportion of body and wings and for his better imitation let him lay the natural Fly before him and try near art can come unto or dissemble nature by an equal symetry and commixture of colors The better to attain which end the Angler must always have in readiness a large Magazine Bag or Budget plentifully furnished with the following materials Bears hair 1. Bears hair of divers colours and shades are the most excellent Dibbing as Grey Dun light coloured sad coloured and bright shining Bears hair Camels hair 2. Camels hair sad light and of an indifferent colour Badgers hair 3. Badgers skin hair that is the brownish soft Fur
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
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
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
have been kept three weeks or you may put them in an earthen Pot full of water with some Gravel at the bottom and take them forth into your bag as you use them but the best way of keeping them is as before is directed at cap. 3. sect 16. Various ways of Angling with the Cod-bait 13. One may Angle several ways with Cod-baits either at bottom with a float or within a foot of the bottom at mid-water or at top but if in a clear water for the Trout or Grayling use fine and smallest Lines almost length of Rod and very light Leaded if within water Sometimes you may when you use a float put on 2 or 3 together and sometimes Cod-bait to very great effect is joyned with a Worm and sometimes to an Artificial Fly to cover the point of the Hook sometimes it s put on the point of the Hook after an Oak fly and then they dib with it or which I like better to let them sink 9 or 10 inches within the water continually raising and gently moving it And some say Cod-balt when used by it self is always to be Angled with at the bottom and with the finest tackle and that it is for all times of the Year the most holding Bait of all other whatever both for Trout and Grayling Others there are that affirm The best way to Angle with Codbait is to Fish with it on the top of the water for Trout or Grayling as you do with the Fly and it must stand on the shank of the Hook as doth the Artificial Fly for if it come into the bent of the Hook the Fish will little or not at all value it nor if you pull the blew gut out of it and to make it keep that place This is called a bristled hook when thus armed or whipt you must when you set on or whip your Hook fasten a stiff Horse hair or Hogs Bristle under the Silk with the end standing out about a Straws breadth at the head of the hook from under the silk and pointing towards the Line and this will keep it either from stipping totally off and from fliding back into the bent of the hook by which means your Whipping would be left naked and bare and is neither so sightly nor so likely to be taken to remedy which because it often so falls out some always whip the Hook they design for this Bait with the whitest Horse hair which it self will resemble and shine like that bait and consequently do more good or less harm than whipping with Silk or any other colour Thus used its an excellent bait for a Trout You may if you please place a small slender Lead upon the shank of the Hook to sink the bait and draw the Codbait over the Lead Artificial Codbait You may make for Trouts and Salmon smelts an Artificial or Counterfeit Cod-bait by making the body of yellow Bee Wax and the head of black Silk and a little dubbing black This you must be often raising from the bottom and let it sink again or you may do it by making the body of yellow Wash-Leather or rather Shammy or Buff and the head of black Silk In a muddy water Trouts will not take the Codbait therefore only Angle with them in clear waters Codbait is a very excellent Bait both for Trout and Grayling and likewise for other Fish as Chub Roch Dace Salmon smelts Pearch Carp Tench and Bleak Some persons make the counterfeit Cod-bait of yellow Bees-Wax and an artificial dubb'd head and a pair of wings at the head and Angle therewith as at dub-fly if you imitate the Cod-bait with yellow Bee-Wax and make the head of black dubbing and black silk and perform the same very artificially it s an incomparable Bait for Trouts and Salmon smelts some make use of a piece of a small yellow Wax Candle to imitate the Cod-bait and put a dubt head and wings on top of the Hook Bark-worm or Ash-grub 14. Are all one and the same and is plump milk-white bent round from head to tail and exceeding tender with a red head resembling a young Dore or Humble Bee it s in season all the year especially from Michaelmas until mid May or June It s the most proper Bait save any but the Fly and Cod-bait for the Grayling but Chub Roch and Dace will likewise take it It s found under the Bark of an Oak Ash Alder or Birch especially if they lye a year or more after they are fallen likewise it s found in the body of a rotted Alder if you break it with an Ax but be careful only to shake the Tree in pieces with beating and crush not the Worm you may also find it under the Bark of the Stump of a Tree if decayed He is very tender therefore to be baited on such a bristled hook as before is directed for the Cod-bait and hee 's to be baited thus viz. the hook is to be put in under the head or chaps of the bait and guided down the middle of the belly without sustering it to peep out by the way for then it will issue out water and milk till nothing but the skin remain and the bent of the Hook will appear black through it till the point of the hook come so low that the head of the bait may rest and stick on the bristle that comes out to hold it by which means it can neither slip of it self neither will the force of the Stream nor quick pulling out on any mistake strip it off This bait is usually kept in bran and thereby grows tougher For Grayling you are to Angle with this bait with the smallest Lines How to Angle for a Grayling with an Ash-grith such as is directed for a Trout with a running line in a clear water and you are always to use a small Float and the least weight of plumb or Lead you can that will but sink and that the swiftness of the Stream will allow and your Bait is always to be 5 or 6 inches from the bottom but for other Fish as Chub Roch Dace you may use Lines and Tackle proper for them and Angle as is suitable for their humor Flag-worm or Dock-worm 15. Are all one to find them do thus Go to an old Pond or Pit where there are store of Flags or as some call them Sedges pull some up by the roots then shake those roots in the water till all the mud and dirt be washed away from them then amongst the small strings or fibres that grow to the roots you 'l sind little husks or cases of a reddish or yellowish and some of other colours open these carefully with a Pin and you 'l find in them a little small Worm pale yellow or white as a Gentle but longer and flenderer with rows of feet all down his belly and a red head This is an exceeding good bait for Grayling and likewise for Tench Bream and Carp If you pull the Flags in sunder
well together and press the Juyce thereout and wet your Moss therewith and when you Angle put 6 or 8 Worms therein out of the other Worm-bag and when spent by fishing do the like 13. Some use the Juyce of Netles and Housleek as the last and some only the Juyce of Housleek 14. Some anoint their bait with the Marrow got out of a Herons Thigh-bone 15. Take the Bones or Scull of a Dead-man at the opening of a Grave and beat the same into pouder and put of this pouder in the Moss wherein you keep your Worms but others like Grave Earth as well CHAP. VII General Directions and Observations LET the Anglers Apparrel not be of a light shining or glittering colour which will reflect upon the water and affright away the Fish but let it be of a sad dark colour and close to his body for Fish are affrighted with any the least sight or motion therefore by all means keep out of sight when you Angle in a cleer water either by sheltring behind some Bush or Tree or by standing as far off the Rivers side you can possible to effect this the better a long Rod at ground and a long Rod and line at artificial Fly are absolutely necessary Neither ought you to jump on the banks next the water you Angle in for of all Creatures there is none more sharp sighted or fearful than Fish especially Trouts Chubs and Carp 2. When you Angle at Ground in a cleer Water or dibble with natural Flies Angle going up the River but in a muddy water or with Dub-fly Angle going down the River 3. Before you set out to Angle see that your haits be good sweet fine and agreeable to the River and Season and likewise your Tackle suitable for if otherwise you had better stay at home 4. Use Shoomakers wax to the Tread or Silk with which you make or mend either Rod or Fly for it holds more firmly and sticks better then any other 5. When you have hooked a good Fish have an especial care to keep the Rod bent least he run to the end of the Line and break either Hook or Hold. 6. Angle for all sort of Fish whatever in that part of the River where his haunt is described to be Fishes general Haunt 7. Where any Weeds Roots of Trees Stones Wood or other rubbish it s often good but very troublesom Angling for to such places Fishes resort for warmth and security so likewise in Whirl-pools for they are like pits in Rivers and are seldom unfirnished of good Fish likewise at Weirs Mill-streams piles posts and pillars of Bridges Flood-gates Cataracts and Falls of Waters the Eddies betwixt two Streams the returns of a Stream and the side of a Stream are good places generally to Angle in and in Summer all Fish generally lay in the more shallow part of the River or in a strong swift or gentle stream except Carp Tench and Eel in Winter all fly into the deep still places where it ebbeth and floweth Fish sometimes bite best in the Ebb most usually sometimes when it floweth rarely at full water near the Arches of bridges Weirs or Floot-Gates 8. When any Fish have taken the Hook from you if it be not swallowed into their Gorge they will live either the water will cause it to rust and in time wear away or the Fish will go to the bottom and there root like a Hog on the Gravel till they either rub it out or break the Hook in the middle How to feed Fish 9. Into such places as you use to Angle once a Week at least cast in all sorts of Corn boyled soft grains steeped in blood blood dryed and cut into pieces Snails Worms chopt into peices peices of Fowl or Beasts Guts Beasts Livers Cheese chewed especially for Carp Tench Chub Roch Dace Barbel and Bream you cannot feed too often or too much this course draweth the Fish to the place you desire and there keeps them together cast in about twenty Grains of ground Malt or Beans ground now and then as you Angle or chewed Oat-Cake or Cheese but by no means when you Angle in a stream cast them in at your Hook but something above where you Angle least the stream carry them beyond the Hook and so instead of drawing them to you you draw them beyond you 10. If you Angle at any place you have twice or thrice baited and find no sport if none has been there before you or no grand Impediment in the Season or Water appear be assured Pike or Pearch if they breed in that River have there taken up their quarters and affright all other Fish thence for fear of being made a prey your only remedy is presently to Angle for them with suitable Tackle and baits and when they are caught the others will repossess themselves of their former station To know what Bait and Fly Fish take 11. The first Fish you catch rip up his belly and you may then see his Stomach it s known by its largeness and place lying from the Gills to the small Guts take it out very tenderly if you bruise it your labour is lost and with a sharp Pen knife cut it open without bruising and then you 'l find his Food in it and thereby discover what bait at that instant the Fish take best Flyes or Ground-baits and so fit them accordingly and if you have a magnifying Glass you may with some pleasure to you easily discover the very true colour of the Fly and some can do it pretty well without a Glass 12. Keep the Sun and Moon if Night before you if your eyes will endure it at least be sure to have these Planets on your side for if they be on your back both your self and Rod will with its shadow oftend much and the Fish see further and clearer when they look towards those Lights then the contrary as you may experiment thus in a dark night if a man come between you and any Light you see him clearly but not at all if the Light come betwixt you and him 13. All Fish whatever that swim in Rivers are wholesomer pleasanter and far better tasted than those of the same kind that live in Pits Ponds Mears and standing waters 14. A Hog back and a little head either to Trout Salmon or any other Fish are a sign they are in Season 15. Let all baits and Flyes whatsoever fall gently first into the Water before any other part of the Line and with as little of the Line as possible and without any distubance plunging or circling of the water which mightily scares Fish 16. Some Fish are said to be Leather mouthed that is their mouths are so tough that if they once be hooked they seldom break the hold such are the Chub Barbel Carp Tench Roch and Gudgeon But the Pike Salmon Pearch Grayling Trout and Bream are very tender mouthed and their hold often breaks after they are hooked 17. Roch and Dace or Dare recover
brown or Ale colour then its good to Angle at ground 6. After Floods are gone away and Rivers come within their own banks their first clearness recovered and the water pure then its good to Angle 7. A little before any Fish spawn they come into the gravelly sandy Fords to rub and loofen their Bellies and then and there they bite well 8. When Rivers are raised by Rain and yet are within their Banks Fish seek shelter and ease in little and milder currents of small Brooks that fall into larger Rivers and at the sides or ends of Bridges that defend a small space of ground from the impetuousness of the Stream or in any low place near the River-side Fish rest and secure themselves from the rapid Stream in such a place not too deep you 'l find Sport 9. At the conflux of Rivers and where it Ebbeth and Floweth Fish sometimes bite very well in the Ebb most usually sometimes when it floweth rarely at full water 10. In February March beginning of April September and all Winter Months Fish bite best in the Sun shine warmth and middle part of the day no Wind stirring the Air cleer In the Summer months mornings and evenings are best and dark windy cool or cloudy weather if you can guide your Tools and find shelter no matter how high the Winds be so they be not Easterly 11. Fish rise best at the Fly after a shower that hath not mudded the Water yet hath beaten the Gnats and Flyes into the River you may in such a shower observe them to rise much if you can but endure the Rain The best Months for Fly are March April and May in cooler months Angle in the warmth of the day in warm weather about 9 in the morning and 3 a clock in the afternoon are the very chief times to Angle in if any gentle Gale blow sometimes in a warm Evening if the Gnat play much 12. In calm clear and Star-light Nights especially if the Moon shine great Fish Trouts especially are as wary and fearful as in dark windy days and stir not but if the next day prove cloudy and windy and the water in order you may be sure of sport if there be store of Fish in the River for having abstained from food all night they are more hungry and eager and the darkness and windiness of the day makes them morebold to bite 13. In small clear Brooks if you come in or immediately after a shower that hath raised the water or take it just as any Mill Water begins to come down and so go along with the course of the water Fish especially Trouts will then bite well for then they come forth to seek Food which they expect the water to bring down 14. In May especially and generally all Summer if the morning prove extream cold as sometimes it doth although there be no Frost Fish bite not to any purpose until the day become warmer and if it prove cold all the day long they bite best where the Sun shines but not at all in the shady parts of the River 15. If the day be dark and cloudy in the Summer no matter how high the Winds be so they be not Easterly and you be able to manage your Tools 16. After the River is cleared from a Flood Fish rise very well being glutted with ground-Baits they then covet the Fly having wanted it a time 17. Morning and Evening are best for ground Line for a Trout or other Fish in clear weather and water but in cloudy weather or muddy water you may Angle at ground all day 18. Great Fish as Trouts feed most in the night especially if it be dark or windy and then bite not next day unless dark or windy it prove and then a little in the afternoon 19. The Wind blowing from the South or West is good to Angle in the North Wind is but indifferent but the East very bad 20. All Fish bite keener and better especially in Summer in swift rapid stony Rivers than in those that run gently and glyde on slime and mud CHAP. X. Observations on the Trout MY next Discourse shall be of the several sorts of Fish wherein I shall only tell you of little more than their Haunts which is the place proper to Angle in for them their particular times of Biting Spawning Season and Baits omitting much that might be said of each Fish because this is intended to be a Summary of the Anglers Art and more for Practise than Theory and for that the Trout is the most Excellent Fish by the Vogue of the most curious Palats my first Discourse shall be of him His Haunt 1. A Trout loveth small purling Brooks or Rivers that are very swift crystal and cleer running on Stones or Gravel he feeds whilst strong at the swiftest Streams and more usually in the side of the Stream than in it sometimes in the deepest part of it especially if he be a large one and near the Banks or behind a Stone Block or some Bank that shoots forth with a point into the River upon which the stream beareth much and causeth a whirling of the water back by the banks side much like the Eddy of the Tide and he the more willingly maketh choice of this place if there be a shade over his Head as a bush soam or hollow hanging Bank under which he can shelter himself or behind a stone log or some small bank that shoots into the River which the Stream beareth upon where he 'l ly watching for what cometh down the stream and suddenly catcheth it up sometimes in the Eddies betwixt two streams and in the returns of a stream he lyes his Hold is usually in the deep under a hollow place of the bank root of a Tree or Stone which he loves exceedingly and sometimes but not often he 's found in Weeds in the Spring and latter end of Summer hee 'l ply at tail of a Stream but in Mid-May at the upper end and so do most Fish if his hold be near hee 'l stay long in a place as he grows stronger he departs from the dead still Waters into the sharp Streams and Gravel yet the best Trouts often in Summer in excessive Droughts are driven out of the small and shallow Streams and retire into the plain Deeps where you may catch them with dibbing or on a cloudy windy day with a Cast-fly 2. If there be great store of Chub in the River you shall only catch Trouts in the Streams in March April and September because in the 4 hot months Chubs come into the Sreams and then drive out Trouts by the Opinion of very good Anglers Spawning time Season c. 3. Trouts contrary to most Fish spawn about Martynmas in some Rivers a little carlier or later but most other Fish spawn in the Spring or Summer he 's in season from begining of March until Michaelmas but his chief season is the end of May the Female hath a less Head and
deeper body then Male the best are usually red or yellow and some white yet good but those rarely sound some Soils nourâ—sh them better than others for in the same River you shall in one Field catch one lank lean and with a great Head and in the next Field one full thick lusty fat and with a small Head they dye quickly after taken but the Eel Carp and Tench live long out of their proper Element they and Salmons will miraculously pass thorough and over Weares Wood-gates small Cataracts and Fish garths they are a greedy devouring and ravenous Fish and in their season nimble quick and strives long and vigorously for their lives and will run among roots weeds or any thing to entangle the Line or break it and when struck will endeavour to run to the end of the Line they like a large Bait at ground and his ground-bait must drag on the ground flyes they take most at top of the water or within 3 or 4 inches of it with Minnow or Loach he 's caught within a foot off the surface of the Water and sometimes lower by trouling they are no long-lived Fish at full growth they decline in body and grow in the Head until death Baits for the Trout 4. Principal Baits for Trouts at the ground are Worm Brandlings Giltails Tag-tail Meadow and Red-Worm but for a mighty Trout the Dew-Worm the two first are the principal Worms for him all the year both in clear and muddy waters the others for waters discoloured with Rain then a Cod-bait which is either for top or bottom so is the Clap-bait and the Water-cricket he takes the Palmer-fly or Wool-bed and all sorts of Flyes both natural and artificial at top of the Water especially the Palmer-fly Water-cricket stone-fly green Drake and Ash-fly he will likewise take a Cod-bait and Clap-bait that are Counterfeited with yellow Wax Shammy or Buss as before is directed sometimes he takes the Oak-worm and Haw-thorn-worm at top of the Water The Menow Bull-head his Guil Finns cut off and the Loach especially are excellent baits in a cleer water for great Trouts in March April and September about midwater to troul with in the Streams or on Windy days in the deep He will also take all sorts of Bobs Palmers Caterpillars Gentles Dores the young brood of Wasps young Humble-bees Hornets Beetles their Legs and uppermost Wings cut off and Grass hoppers his Leggs and outmost Wings cut likewise off as the Brandling Giltail Tag-tail Meadow-worm Red-worm and Dew-worm are the best Worms for the ground Angle to be suited respectively to the Temperature and colour of the River although the Brandling and Giltail are for either muddy or cleer waters and perhaps the best so is the Cod-bait Clap-bait Water-Cricket Palmer-worm stone-Fly Green-Drake Oak-Fly and Artisicial Fly the best for the Trout at the top of the Water when cleer Dibble with the Water-Cricket Stone-Fly Green-Drake Grass-hopper and Sharn-bud as they severally come in Season dib also with the Oak-fly and a Cod-bait at point of the Hook and let them sink half a foot or a foot within water and its a dead bait for a Trout also a Clap-bait and artificial Head and Wings with a bristled Hook as Cod-bait is used is excellent for top Of each of these particular Baits see more in the Chapter of Baits The ways to Angle for them 5. The way to Angle for Trout at ground is with the running line without any float or he 's caught by Float-Angling at ground at mid-water by Trowling at top of the water by dibbing and the cast-fly of all which ways see more hereafter Biting time 6. A Trout bites best in a muddy rising water or in a water that is clearing after a Flood or in dark cloudy or windy weather early in the morning from a little after Sun-rising till about half an hour after ten and from about two a clock in the afternoon till six and sometimes in the evening but 9 a clock in the forenoon and 3 in the afternoon are his chiefest and most constant hours of biting at Ground or Fly as the water suits either March April May and part of June are his chiefest Months tho he bites well in July August and September After a shower in the evening he rises well at Gnats When he takes Minnow and Loach Vide Antea 7. In little Brooks which fail into large Rivers where it libbs and Flows only in fresh waters or a little brackish if you begin at the mouth of such Brooks just as the Tide cometh in and goeth up the Brook with the Head of the Tide and return with the Ebbing of the water you will take good Trouts and have much sport and if the Tide do not muddy the water they will also rise at the Fly at such a time 8. Vid. Cap. 9. Sect. 12.17 and 18. 9. In small clear Brooks if you come in or immediately after a shower that hath raised the water or take it just as any Mill water beginneth to come down and so go along with the course of the water Trouts will then bite well because they expect the water will bring down food with it and they come forth to seek it but in small Brooks when the Mills stand and keep up the Water you 'l have little or no sport at ground especially and but little with Fly for the Trout at such a time is fearful and dares scarce venture out of hold 10. When you Angle for Salmon or Trout and all day long have had little or rather no sport either at ground or fly next night especially at the beginning of it and until midnight or near it they will not fail to bite either at ground or fly as the season or water suits best for either freely and eagerly if the weather be not nipping cold or frosty 11. When you Angle for Trout with fly or ground-bait you need not make above 3 or 4 tryals in one place for he will then either take it or make an offer or not stir at all 12. When Rains raise the Rivers and almost continually keep them equal with their banks or above their ordinary height Trouts leave Rivers and larger Brooks and fly into such small Brooks as scarce run at all in Summers that are dry in such Brooks Angle for them Trouts generally quit the great Rivers at Michaelmas and go into small Rills or Rivulets to Spawn and are frequently there destroyed by idle loose and disorderly fellows with groping or otherwise which does more injury to the breed of Fish than all the Summers Angling for then they take all the Spawning Trouts Thus I have known a River very plentifully stored with Trouts in 3 or 4 years utterly spoiled 13. When you Angle for Trout or Salmon with Worm or at ground let your Bait drag on the ground as little as may be but touch the ground it must especially for Trouts but Mr. Cotton advises when you Angle with a float to let the
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
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
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-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
best and neatliest spun Hemp Yarn and curiously twisted 16 yards long your hook double and strongly armed with Wire for above a foot How to bait the Pike hook then with a Probe or Needle you must draw the wire in at the Fishes mouth and out at his tail that so the hook may lye in the mouth of the Fish and both the points on either side upon the shank of the hook fasten some Lead very smooth that it go into the Fishes mouth and sink her with the head downwards as though she had been playing on the top of the water and were returning to the bottom your bait may be Gudgeon Menow small Trout small Roch or Dace small Salmon smelts Perch his upper most back-fins cut off Loach or sometimes a Frog your hook thus baited you must tye the tail of the Fish close and fast to the Wire or else with drawing to and again the Fish will rend off the hook or which is neater with a Needle and strong Thread stitch through the Fish on either side of the Wire and tie it very fast How to Troul All being thus fitted cast your Fish up and down in such places as you know Pike frequents observing still that he sink some depth before you pull him up again when the Pike cometh if it be not sunk deep you may see the water move at least you may feel him then slack your line and give him length enouâ—h to run away to his Hold whether he 'l go directly and there pouch it ever beginning as you may perceive with the head swallowing that first thus let him lie until you see the line move in the water and then you may certainly conclude he hath pouched the bait and ranged abroad for more then with the Trowl wind up your Line which should always be 16 or 18 yards long at least till you think you have it almost streight then with a smart jerk hook him and make your pleasure to your content Some use no Rod at all but holding the Line on links on their hand using Lead and Float Others use a very great Hook with the Hook at the tail of the Fish and when the Pike cometh they strike at the first pull Others use to put a strong String or Thread in at the month of the bait and out at one of the gills and so over the head and in at the other gills and so tye the bait to the hook leaving a little length of Thread or String betwixt the Fish and Hook that so the Pike may turn the head of the bait the better to swallow it and then as before after some pause strike Some use to tie the bait hook and line to a bladder or bundle of Flags or Bullrushes fastning the line very gently in the cleft of a small stick to hold the bait from sinking more than its allowed length half a yard and the stick must be fastned to the Bladder or flags to which the Line being tied that it might easily unfold and run to its length and so give the Pike liberty to run away with the bait and by the Bladder or Flags recover their Line again you must observe this way to turn off your Bait with the Wind or Stream that they may carry it away or some use for more sport if the Pike be a great one and in a Pond to tie the same to the foot of a Goose which the Pike if large will sometimes pull under water Angling for Pike at Snap When you Fish for the Pike at Snap you must give him leave to run a little then strike but be sure strike the contrary way to that which he runneth a double Spring hook is principally if not only useful in this way of Angling and much to be preferred before all other hooks for the Pike will usually hold the bait so fast in his Teeth that you may fail to pull it out of his mouth and also strike him whereas with a Spring hook though he hold it never so fast the Wire will draw through the bait and so the Spring will open and you will very frequently hook him on the out-side of his mouth Angling with the Trowl is a furer at least a more easy way for a Learner to practise who wants an instructer than the Snap besides the Snap is chiefly useful to take a Pike which often pricking with the Trowl hath made wary and cunning for one that hath not been scared will swallow the bait boldly such an one is taken best at Snap How to bait for the Snap In this way of Angling put on your bait thus make a hole with the point of your Hook or Probe in the Fishes side as near the middle as you can put in your armed wire and draw it out at the mouth and with a Needle and Thread sew up the Fishes mouth Others use the Probe to draw the arming wire under the skin only not the Ribs by any means and out at the bone behind the gills then again under the gills our at the mouth this latter way is much better because there is only the skin to hinder the drawing and piercing of the hook whereas the former way if the Pike hold fast as commonly he doth all the Flesh on the out-fide of the Fish will be drawn into a heap or lump so thick that the hook except very large can hardâ—y reach through it to pierce the Pikes chaps Rules for Pike Angling 1. After he hath taken your bait if he move slowly and make no stop give him time â—nd you 'l seldom miss him 2. Or if he lie after he hath taken the bait as sometimes he will gently move your and to try which way his head lieth if you annot discover that then strike directly upâ—ards otherwise you may instead of hookâ—ng him pluck the bait out of his mouth 3. If he take it upon the top of the water â—nd lie still you see which way his head lieth â—nd may order your self accordingly 4. At the Snap your Tackle must be stronger than for the Trowl in regard you must strike much more forcibly 5. At Snap you must give 2 lusty Jerks one after the other and be sure you ever strike contrary to the way his head lieth lest you pull the bait from him only 6. Fasten your swivel to the end of your Line and hook your armed Wire upon the Swivel 7. For the Snap cast a piece of lead hollow and so wide as to go over the wire and the end of the hook which you draw within the Fâ—shes mouth let it lie there to sink his head downwards make it so rough that it slip not out or sew up the Fishes mouth which is better than to place the Lead upon the Line as some use for the Lead will often slip further and also entangle the bait and line together 8. Both at Snap and with Trowl cut away one of the Fins close at the gills and also behind
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