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Suppose it be a big lob-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, that, at
the
entering of your hook, it must not be at the head-end of the worm,
but
at the tail-end of him, that the point of your hook may come out
toward
the head-end; and, having drawn him above the arming of your hook,
then put the point of your hook again into the very head of the
worm,
till it come near to 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, and so fish with it. And if you mean to fish
with
two worms, then put the second on before you turn back the hook's-
head of the first worm. You cannot lose above two or three worms
before you attain to what I direct you; and having attained it,
you will
find it very useful, and thank me for it: for you will run on the
ground
without tangling.
Now for the Minnow or Penk: he is not easily found and caught
till
March, or in April, for then he appears first in the river; nature
having
taught him to shelter and hide himself, in the winter, in ditches
that be
near to the river; and there both to hide, and keep himself warm,
in the
mud, or in the weeds, which rot not so soon as in a running river,
in
which place if he were in winter, the distempered floods that
are
usually in that season would suffer him to take no rest, but carry
him
headlong to mills and weirs, to his confusion. And of these Minnows:
first, you are to know, that the biggest size is not the best;
and next, that
the middle size and the whitest are the best; and then you are
to know,
that your minnow must be so put on your hook, that it must turn
round
when 'tis drawn against the stream; and, that it may turn nimbly,
you
must put it on a big-sized hook, as I shall now direct you, which
is thus:
Put your hook in at his mouth, and out at his gill; then, having
drawn
your hook two or three inches beyond or through his gill, put
it again
into his mouth, and the point and beard out at his tail; and then
tie the
hook and his tail about, very neatly, with a white thread, which
will
make it the apter to turn quick in the water; that done, pull
back that
part of your line which was slack when you did put your hook into
the
minnow the second time; I say, pull that part of your line back,
so that it
shall fasten the head, so that the body of the minnow shall be
almost
straight on your hook: this done, try how it will turn, by drawing
it
across the water or against a stream; and if it do not turn nimbly,
then
turn the tail a little to the right or left hand, and try again,
till it turn
quick; for if not, you are in danger to catch nothing: for know,
that it is
impossible that it should turn too quick. And you are yet to know,
that
in case you want a minnow, then a small loach, or a stickle-bag,
or any
other small fish that will turn quick, will serve as well. And
you are yet
to know that you may salt them, and by that means keep them ready
and
fit for use three or four days, or longer; and that, of salt,
bay-salt is the
best.
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