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,
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