What has been said respecting artificial fly fishing for salmon, is in all points applicable to the trout, except that two flies at a time are taken for the last, the one called a dropper, and the other a stretcher. The variety must also be greater, but in size much smaller ; and at some seasons of the year so diminutive as to imitate the common gnat or midge, (culex pulicaris) to which, after a shower in a summer's day, or in its evening, they rise with much eagerness. It must be observed too, that in the dressing of small flies, the links on which they are to be whipped should be extremely fine, either single hairs, or the most slender and round silk-worm gut that can be procured.
The minnow is a very excellent bait for the trout, but requires strong tackle, and you must use the stiff top to your rod. Use the real fish, not the artificial tin ones, now sold in the shops. Your links should consist of two stout worm guts in thickness, and three yards at least in length, on which place two swivels, which make the bait play, and spin easily, and also prevent your line from twisting. Attach a few small leaden drops, or shot, to your gut links, in order to keep them under water. Have a long shanked hook stuck through the body of the minnow, and a small short one in the mouth, by which means it moves straight and steady. Throw your line across, and work it through the stream, so as to imitate the motion and swimming of the minnow. If you feel the fish bite, be wary in striking too quickly, but allow him time to get it fairly in his mouth, and then you may depend upon having the hook securely fixed. In this kind of fishing, fresh are always preferable to salted or preserved minnows ; and the most favourable time to try it, is when the river is clearing after a flood. The lob, dew, garden, or earth worm, (lunzbricus terrestris) is the most general, and is perhaps the most successful live bait for the trout. It may be so scoured, as to make it very tough for remaining on the hook, and so cleaned, as to render it transparent and conspicuous to almost every fish in the river or brook in which you are to an gle. The brandling and small red worms are also good
baits, and ought to be prepared in the same manner as the lumbricus ; that is, to put them in a canvass bag, along with well-washed moss (Scotch fog,) and to pour a little milk upon it, by which management, you may use them in fishing after eight or ten days' keeping. Your hook link should be of a single gut, with a partridge shot, about half splitted, placed near ten inches from the hook, and another of the same kind at an equal dis tance, and farther up; but they must be heavier in very rapid currents. Have your line stretched at the same time, that you allow the bait to move gently down the stream, and be careful not to let it touch, nor drag upon the bottom. In a drought, and when the rivers become small and clear, a well-scoured red worm, upon very fine tackling, when you can keep out of sight, is a man ner of fishing, if not immediately before rain, that sel dom or never fails to succeed. Trouts take all kind of flies, whether real, or dressed from fancy or imitation, and also the minnow, and all the insects before mention ed. But, without a doubt, the most ingenious and cleanly mode for their capture, is the artificial jiy-angling ; yet, in particular conditions of the weather, and of the waters, live bait fishing may be found preferable, because more successful, but it never can be so pleasant. Before the fishing season commences, the angler should be pro vided with all kinds of tackling ; indeed, in the collect ing, and in the preparing of his materials, there is almost as much pleasure as when angling in the river. All his lines, links, hairs, hooks, &c. should be placed in order in his fishing pocket-book, so that he may at once know where to lay his hand on any particular article that he may want. A wicker-basket and a landing net will also be necessary appendages to the equipment of the trout angler.