CHAP. V. A Description of the Fish generally angled for in England and Wales; with the proper Times and Seasons to fish for them, their peculiar Haunts, spawning Time, and most killing Baits, &c. TH THE SALMON. HE salmon, according to the opinion of some, breeds in the sea; but that of others seems better warranted, that he breeds in the clear, sandy parts of rivers, not far from the mouths thereof. They commonly spawn in October, and the young become samlets the following year, and in a few months a large salmon. They spawn in some rivers in September, but in the Severn in May. The milter and spawner having performed their office, betake to the sea; and we are told, that when they have been obstructed in their passage, they have grown so impatient, that, clapping their tails to their mouths, with a sudden spring, they have leaped clear over wears and other obstacles which stood in their way, and some, by leaping short, have by that means been taken. If they happen to meet with such impediments that they cannot get to sea, they become sick, lean, and pine away, and die in two years. The principal occasion of their dying is this: the salmon being a fish by nature tender and very chill, cannot, in the winter-season, endure the extreme frigidity of the fresh river-water, by reason of its tenuity, especially being so lately weakened by spawning; and therefore, by instinct, they make the sea their winter habitation, the sea being naturally warm: but if they spawn in the mean time, from thence proceeds a small salmon, called a skegger, which never grows large. The female salmon is distinguished from the male, because its nose is longer and more hooked, its scales not so bright, and its body speckled over with dark brown spots, its belly flatter, and its flesh not so red, more dry, and less delicious to the taste. The principal rivers in England for salmon are, 1st, the Thames, whose salmon beats all others for taste and flavour; the Severn and the Trent; the Lon, at Lancaster, about Cockersand Abbey; at Workington in Cumberland; Bywell in Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle on Tyne; the Dee in Cheshire; and the rivers Usk and Wye in Monmouthshire. Besides the salmon-leap in the river Tivy in Pembrokeshire, there is another in the river Ban in Ireland: this river is in the mountains of Mourn in the county of Down, and it passes through Lough Eaugh, or Lough Sidney, a large lake in the county of Coleraine. Mr. Cambden says, it breeds salmons in abundance, above all other rivers in Europe, because it is thought to exceed all others for clearness, in which sort of water salmons delight. He bites best about three in the afternoon, in May, June, July, and August, if the water be clear, and a little breeze of wind stirring, especially if the wind and stream be contrary. You must fish for him like a trout, with a worm, fly, or minnow, or lobworm is an excellent bait for him, well scoured in moss, which makes him tough, clear, and lively. When you have struck him, he will plunge and bounce in the water very much, therefore it is necessary to have a strong rod, ringed the same as a trowling-rod, and a winch with a strong line on it forty yards long, with which length, and a proper playing him, you may kill the largest-sized one. He has not a constant residence like a trout, but removes often, and you should always angle for him as near the spring-head as possible, in the deepest and broadest parts of the river, near the ground. Put two large lob-worms on at a time, and you may fish without a float, that is, with a running line. Let one yard next to your hook be gimp, and your hook a proper-sized salmon-hook, No. 1. N. B. When I come to treat of fly-fishing, the proper flies for the salmon, &c. will be clearly expressed. THE TROUT. The trout is a delicious fresh-water fish, speckled with red and yellow, coming in and going out of season with the buck, and spawning in the cold months of October and November, whereas all other fishes spawn in the hot summer months. There are several species of this fish, all valued very much; but the best are the red and yellow, and of these the female, distinguished by a less head and deeper body, is preferred: by the largeness of their backs you may know when they are in season, which may serve as a rule for all other fishes. All winter long, they are sick, lean, and unwholesome, and frequently lousy. As the spring advances, deserting the still, deep waters, they repair to the gravelly ground against which they continue to rub, till they have got rid of their lice, which are a kind of worm, with large heads; from that time they delight to be in sharp streams, and such as are very swift, where they lie in wait for minnows, may-flies, &c. The latter part of May they are in the highest perfection. He is usually caught with a worm, minnow, or fly, either natural or artificial. The different baits for him are the earth-worm, dung-worm, and the maggot or gentle, but the best are the lob-worm and brandling. His haunts are purling brooks, running very swift over chalk-stones, gravel, &c. He is oftener taken in the side of the stream than in it, though the large ones are often caught in the deepest part of it. He delights to shelter himself behind large stones, or small banks that hang over the river, which the stream running against creates a foam; also in the eddies between two streams. His hold is usually under the roots of trees, and in hollow banks in the deepest parts of rivers. When you angle for him at the ground, let the link of your line next the hook be the best silk-worm gut you can provide; and have a nice elastic rod, which will enable you to strike true, and to feel him when he bites. Angle for him with a running line, and begin at the upper part of the stream, carrying your line with an upright hand, and feeling your lead run on the ground about ten inches from the hook, leading your line according to the swiftness of the stream, as before directed. If you bait either with one or two worms, follow the manner of baiting them which I have laid down in the rules, and you will run on the ground without being entangled. There is a very killing method likewise for a large trout: make a pair of wings of the feather of a land-rail, and point your hook with one or more cadis your hook should be bristled, that is, when you whip on your hook, fasten a hog's bristle under the silk, with the end standing out about a straw's breadth, at the head of the hook, from under the silk, and pointing towards the line, by which means the head of the cadis will be kept close to the wings. Angle with a rod about five yards long, and a line about three cast the wings and cadis up the stream, which will drive it down under the water towards the lower part of the hole; then draw it up the stream very gently, though irregularly, at the same time shaking your rod, and in a few casts you will be sure to hook him, if there is one in the hole. You may angle the same way with two brandlings. If you use two cadis with the wings, run your hook in at the head and out at the neck of the first, and quite through the other from head to tail. The minnow is the most excellent of all baits for the trout; when you fish with one, chuse the whitest, and middle-sized ones, these being the best; and you must place him on your hook in such a manner, that being drawn against the stream he may turn round. The best way of baiting with a minnow is thus: put your hook in at his mouth, and out at his gill, drawing it through about three inches: then put the hook again into his mouth, and let the point and beard come out at his tail; then tie the hook and his tail about with a fine white thread, and let the body of the minnow be almost straight on the hook; then try if it turns well, which it cannot do too fast. Angle with the point of your rod down the stream, drawing the minnow up the stream by little and little, near the top of the water. When the trout sees the bait, he will come most fiercely |
