WHY then, Sir, to begin methodically, as a master

in any art should do, and I will not deny but that I think myself a master in this, I shall divide Angling for Trout or Grayling into these three ways at the top, at the bottom, and in the middle; which three ways, though they are all of them, as I

shall hereafter endeavor to make it appear, in some sort common to both those kinds of fish, yet are they not so generally and absolutely so but that they will necessarily require a distinction; which, in due place, I will also give you.

That which we call angling at the top is with a fly; at the bottom, with a ground-bait; in the middle, with a minnow, or ground-bait.

Angling at the top is of two sorts: with a quick-fly, or with an artificial-fly.

That we call angling at the bottom is also of two sorts by the hand, or with a cork or float.

That we call angling in the middle is also of two sorts with a minnow for a Trout, or with a groundbait for a Grayling.

Of all which several sorts of Angling I will, if you can have the patience to hear me, give you the best account I can.

VIAT. The trouble will be yours, and mine the pleasure and the obligation. I beseech you, therefore, to proceed.

PISC. Why, then, first of Fly-fishing.

LY-FISHING, or fishing at the top, is, as I said

FLY

before, of two sorts: with a Natural, and living, Fly, or with an Artificial, and made, Fly.

First, then, Of the Natural Fly: of which we generally use but two sorts, and those but in the two months of May and June only, namely, the Green-drake and the Stone-fly; though I have made use of a third that way, called the Camlet-fly, with very good success for Grayling, but never saw it angled with by any other after this manner, my master only excepted, who died many years ago, and was one of the best Anglers that ever I knew.

These are to be angled with, with a short line, not much more than half the length of your rod, if the air be still; or with a longer, very near or all out as long as your rod, if you have any wind to carry it from you: and this way of fishing we call Daping, Dabbing, or Dibbling; wherein you are always to have your line flying before you up or down the river as the wind serves, and to angle as near as you can to the bank of the same side whereon you stand: though where you see a fish rise near you, you may guide your quick-fly over him, whether in the middle, or on the contrary side; and, if you are pretty well out of sight, either by kneeling or the interposition of a bank or bush, you may almost be sure to raise, and take him too, if it be presently done; the fish will otherwise, peradventure, be removed to some other place, if it be in the stilldeeps, where he is always in motion, and roving up and down to look for prey; though in a stream, you may always, almost, especially if there be a good stone near, find him in the same place. Your line ought in this case to be three good hairs next the hook; both by reason you are, in this kind of Angling, to expect the biggest fish, and also that, wanting length to give him line after he is struck, you must be forced to tug for 't; to which I will also add, that, not an inch of your line being to be suffered to touch the water in dibbling, it may be allowed to be the stronger. should now give you a description of those flies, their shape and color, and then give you an account of their breeding, and withal show you how to keep and use them; but shall defer that to their proper place and

season.

I

VIAT. In earnest, Sir, you discourse very rationally of this affair, and I am glad to find myself mistaken in you; for in plain truth I did not expect so much from you.

PISC. Nay, Sir, I can tell you a great deal more than this, and will conceal nothing from you. But I must now come to the second way of angling at the top, which is with an artificial-fly, which also I will show you how to make before I have done: but first shall acquaint you, that with this you are to angle with a line longer, by a yard and a half or sometimes two yards, than your rod; and with both this, and the other, in a still day, in the streams, in a breeze that curls the water in the still-deeps, where (excepting in May and June, that the best Trouts will lie in shallow streams to watch for prey, and even then too) you are like to hit the best fish.

For the length of your rod, you are always to be governed by the breadth of the river you shall choose to angle at: and for a Trout-river, one of five or six yards long is commonly enough; and longer, though never so neatly and artificially made, it ought not to be, if you intend to fish at ease; and if otherwise, where lies the sport?

Of these, the best that ever I saw are made in Yorkshire, which are all of one piece: that is to say of several, six, eight, ten, or twelve pieces, so neatly pieced, and tied together with fine thread below, and silk above, as to make it taper, like a switch, and to ply with a true bent to your hand. And these, too, are light, being made of fir-wood for two or three lengths