HAWTHORN-FLY, Found on every hawthorn-bush when the leaves come forth. It is used for dibbing, in some rivers, for trouts. GREAT MOTH, Found, when there is a little breeze, in summerevenings, in gardens, has a great head, not unlike an owl, whitish wings and yellowish body. The chub takes this exceedingly well. BLACK BEE OR HUMBLE BEE, Found in clay walls, and is an excellent bait for the chub. Some cut off his legs and upper wings. N. B. The reader will find the peculiar method of dibbing for chub under the description of that fish. RULES AND HINTS TO BE OBSERVED IN ANGLING. 1st. Every brother angler should be possessed of a great deal of patience and resignation, and not be cast down with bad luck, or be elated with good; for the same success cannot always attend him. 2d. Never angle in glaring colors, for they are the easiest to be discerned by the fishes: always turn out early in the morning, for that is the best time of the day: keep your tackle always neat, and let your baits be in the highest perfection. 3d. When you angle, shelter yourself as much as possible from the sight of the fishes, for they are timorous and easily frightened; and when you angle for trout, you never need make above one or two trials for him in the same place, for he will in that time either take the bait or let it alone. 4th. When the nights prove dark, cloudy, or windy, you will the next day have but little sport in respect to catching large fishes, especially trouts; for in those nights they range about and devour small fishes; but if the nights are bright, and the moon and stars are out, and the days following should be overcast, dark, and gloomy, you may depend on having good sport; for fishes are then as timorous as in sun-shiny days, and never stir from their holds: therefore, having abstained from food all night, they are hungry and eager, and being encouraged by the darkness and gloominess of the day to range about, they then bite boldly and eagerly. 5th. If you wish to know what ground-bait fishes like best, the first you take open his stomach, and there you will find what he fed on last, and bait accordingly. 6th. If, before you go out to angle, you should imagine, by the looks of the weather, that it will prove showery or thunder, always take three or four night-lines out with you, and whilst you angle for other fish, lay them in according to your judgment, baited with well-scoured lob-worms, and you may depend on catching large eels, trout, &c. 7th. The best way to bait your hook, for this kind of fishing, or for worm-fishing in general, either with lob-worms, brandlings, &c. is thus: if you bait with one worm, put your hook into him somewhat above the middle, and out again a little below the middle; having so done, draw your worm above the arming of your hook: but note, you must enter the hook at the tail of the worm, and not at the head; then, having drawn him above the arming of your hook before-mentioned, put the point of your hook again into the very head of the worm, till it come near the place where the point of the hook first came out, and then draw back that part of the worm that was above the shank or arming of your hook: if you fish with two worms, then put the second on before you turn back the hook on the first worm. 8th. If when you are angling in any particular spot, and have had good sport, the fishes should suddenly leave off biting, you may conclude that some of the fish of prey are come to the part you are fishing in; therefore put a minnow on your hook alive, sticking it through his upper lip, or back-fin: let your tackle be strong, in case the pike should be there, but for a certainty you may depend that either he or the perch will take it: but the best way is to have a trimmer or two with you, which may be applied with great advantage whilst you angle for other fish. 9th. When you have struck a good fish, keep your rod bent, which will prevent him from running to the end of the line, whereby he might break his hold. 10th. In ponds, angle near the fords where cattle go to drink and in rivers, angle for breams in the deepest and quietest parts: for eels under trees hanging over banks; for chubs in deep shaded holes; for perches in scours; for roaches, in winter in the deeps, at all other times where angle for perches; and for trouts in quick streams, you 11th. It is good angling in whirlpools, under bridges, at the falls of mills, and in any place where the water is deep and clear, and not disturbed with wind or weather; also, at the opening of sluices, and mill-dams; and if you go with the course of the water, you will hardly miss catching fishes that swim up the stream to seek what food the water brings down with it. 12th. When you fish for roach, dace, &c. in a stream, cast your ground-bait above your hook, and always remember to plumb your ground. 13th. Never trust the strength of your rod or line when you have hooked a good fish, but always use your landing-net. 14th. If the joints of your rod, through wet, should stick so that you cannot easily get them asunder, never use force, for then you will strain your rod; but turn the ferule of the joint that is fast a few times over the flame of a candle, and it will separate. 15th. The best times for angling are from April to October, and the best time of the day from three till nine in the morning, and three in the evening till sun-set. The south wind is the best to angle in, the next best point to that is the west: the cooler these blow in the hottest months is the best time to fish. 16th. Never angle in an easterly wind, for your labour will be in vain; but you may if the wind blows from any other point, provided not too sharply. Fishes will never bite before a shower of rain this hint may save you many a wet skin.* : 17th. In the morning, if there happens to be a hoar frost, either in the spring or advancing of * Vide the Prognostics. the season, fishes will not bite that day, except in the evening; and after they have spawned, very ill, till with grass and weeds they have scoured themselves, and by that means recovered their appetite. 18th. The best time for the trout to be taken, and other fishes with the ground-line, is morning and evening, in clear weather and water; but if the day proves cloudy or the water muddy, you may angle all day long. 19th. The angler may depend on catching store of fishes in a dark, close, gloomy, or lowering day, if the wind be southerly, and when, as the poet observes, "The stealing shower is scarce to patter heard, Having given the reader every necessary instruction in regard to the breeding and feeding of fishes; with the best advice concerning his rods, lines, floats, hooks, baits, &c.; and a set of very choice rules, hints, and cautions, I shall now tell him the best methods of taking the fishes in general angled for in England and Wales. |