The angler's vade mecum, or, A compendious, yet full, discourse of angling discovering the aptest methods and ways ... for the catching all manner of fresh-water fish ... : together with a brief discourse of fish ponds, and not only the easiest but most palatable ways of dressing all sorts of fish ... / by a lover of angling.

CHAP. IV. Of BAITS.

1. HAving instructed our Angler with what Tackle to be accoutred; the next Discourse directs him how to find, order, ma∣nage, keep and preserve all sorts of natural Baits: First, he is to observe that Earth worms are a general Bait for all sorts of Fish whatsoe∣ver, and that they and Gentles continue in sea∣son the whole Year, the Earth-bob from Mar∣tynmas until almost May-day, and the Cow∣turd-bob from May-day until Michaelmas, Flies, Palmers or Wool-beds, Catterpillars, Cod∣bait, Worms bred on Herbs or Trees, as the Oak-worm, &c. all Summer, and know that when one sort of Baits come in season, the pre∣ceeding are not useless, and whensoever you Angle at ground in clear water, have both Earthworms, Cod-bait, Gentles and Bobs with

you, and in more likelyhood Success will at∣tend your Labours: But if you go to Angle for Trout in a muddy water, with running Line, you need only take Brandlings, Gilt-tails, Tag∣tal and Meadow-worm with you: if the three last are not to be easily got, then Brandlings only, and you may have some scowred only in moss and water, others as is directed, with Rid∣dle, and others with Grave earth; for some∣times they will take the Worm kept one way, and sometimes the other, and that all on the fame day, and in 2 hours space. Of Worms there are divers sorts, some bred in the Earth, and therefore called Earth-worms, or Worms simply without any addition, such are the Dew-worm, Red worm, Brandling, Gilt-tail, Tag-tail and Meadow worm; others are bred on Herbs, Plants or Trees, as Palmers or Wool beds, Catterpillers, Oak worm, and Cabbage or Colewort worm: Others on Excrements, or some dead Flesh, as Gentles, &c. of all which this Chapter treats.

Dew worm, Garden-worm, Lob-worm or Twatchell.

2. Are but one Worm, although called in different places by all the said names, and its the principal Worm for Salmons, Chevins, Trouts, Barbels and Eels that are of the great∣est size, but for smaller Fish, tho' of the same species, its not so proper; of these, some be

called Squirrel-tails, which has a red head, a streak down the back and a broad Tail, and these are esteemed the best, because they are toughest, most lively, and live longest in the Water, for with a dead Worm you are in all probability to catch little or nothing. This Worm is found in a Garden or Church-Yard, late in a Summers Evening, with a Lanthorn.

Brandling, Gilt-tails; and Ged-worms,

3. Are the principal Worms for all sorts of Fish, and are generally to be found in old Dung∣hills, or some very rotten place near to them, but usually in Cow Dung, or Hogs-Dung ra∣ther than Horse-durg, which is somewhat too hot and dry for them, but the best are to be found in Tanners bark, which they cast up in heaps after they have used it about their Lea∣ther. These, especially the two first, are the prime Worms Anglers use for Trouts, Gray∣lings, Salmen smelts, Gudgeon, Flounder, Pearch, Tench and Bream; These 3 last take the red-Worm well scoured, very well: The Brandlings and Gilt-tails are taken by Trouts and Graylings, both in muddy and clear waters, but the red worm best in muddy waters. Some say the Branding is the best Worm for a Trout, others the Gilt-tail; but if you Angle with two Worms on the Hook at once, as is generally used for Trouts in muddy waters, then put

both a Brandling and Gilt-tail on the Hook at once, the Gilt-tail the latter.

Marsh or Meadow worms

4. Are got out of Marsh ground, or the fertile banks of Rivers, and is a little blewish, and should be well scowred, and then its both tough and sprightly. 'Tis a choise Worm in March, April, and September, for Trouts, Sal∣mon Smelts, Gudgeon, Grayling and Floun∣der.

Tagtail

5. Is a Worm of the colour of a mans hand, or a pale flesh colour, with a yellow tag on his tail, about half an inch long; They are sound in Marled Lands or Meadows, after a shower of Rain, or in a morning in weather that is calm, not cold, in March and April, its a very good Worm for Trouts, and there are Anglers that affirm that there is not a better Bait in the World for a Trout, if you Angle with them whilst the Water is discoloured by Rain; some commend it likewise for a Grayling.

6: Note, that Dew-worm, Red-worm, and Meadow-worm will abide more scowring than any other of the before mentioned Worms, and are better for long keeping.

How to Order, keep, and scour Worms.

7. Put your Worms into very good long Moss, whether white, red or green is not much material, but the soft white Moss that grows on some Heaths is best (but it is difficult to be found in some Places and Countreys,) wash it well, and cleanse it from all earth and filth, wring it very dry, then put your Moss and Worms into an earthen Pot, cover it close that they crawl not out, set it in a cool place in Summer, and in Winter in a warm place, that the Frost kill them not; every third day in Summer change the Moss, once a week in the Winter: The longer you keep them, especial∣ly the Log-worm, Marsh-worm and Red-worm, before you use them, the better: Some mingle Camomil or Fennel with the Moss. Clean scowring Worms, makes them redder, clearer, tougher, sprightlier, live long on the Hook, and keep colour, and consequently more desi∣rable by Fish. If you be in hast, a little Bole armoniack put to them will further your de∣sire, and make them scour in a short time: Or you may put the Dew-worm and Red-worm 4 or 5 hours in water, and they will scour them∣selves, but be very weak, yet a few hours in good Moss will recover them. Then observe when the knot near the middle of the Brand∣ling begins to swell, he's sick, and if not well looked to, is near Death; but lest they Die,

you may seed them with crumbs of Bread and Milk, or fine flower and milk, or the Yolk of an Egg and sweet Cream coagulated over the Fire; give them a little and often.

Or if you be in haste, put your Bradlings, Gilt-tails, &c. into Moss that is exceeding wet, and it will quickly scour them, but not keep them long, but when you go to Angle, remove them into Moss out of which the water is well wrung or squeczed.

Some wet their Moss very well in sweet Milk or Alewort (in which there hath been no Hops,) and then squeeze it pretty well, and over-night put the Worms therein they in∣tend to use the next day, and think Fish like them better; but the Worms must not rest long in Moss thus wet in Milk or Alewort; in regard it will much swell them, and in 24 hours spoil them; but if you put them in fresh Moss and Water it will well revive them.

Others, and expert Anglers keep them in Moss and good store of Earth cast out of a Grave; the less time the party hath been Bu∣ried the better, and put them in fresh Moss and some of this Earth when they go to Angle, and those that use this much, boast of its ex∣cellency in alluring Fish.

I know some ingenious Anglers, that in the Spring, and for a muddy water, use to shave Riddle or red Oker (with which people in Lan∣cashire use to mark their Sheep) into the Moss they keep their Worms in, and sometimes those

baits will be taken eagerly, when the brighter, (that is those kept in Moss and Water only) will not at all be taken, and perhaps within an hour again the bright ones will be taken, and the radled worms refused. Now since all ways are discovered to you for keeping and ordering your Worms, elect that way which Experience assures you to be the best; only this let me observe, That if I could otherwise help it I would never have my Brandlings and Gilt∣tails kept in Moss, and the water well squeezed out of it (which way I only use) less than 48 hours, or above 8 days, but I often Angle with them when they are not scoured above 16 hours, but 'tis not so good.

Palmer worm, Palmer fly, and Wool-bed.

8. Are all one Worm, bred on Herbs and Trees, and is, if not a perfect Catterpillar, yet a species thereof; These are rough and woolly on the outward parts, hence by some called Wool-beds, and are good Baits either for Trout, Chub, Grayling or Dace, Palmer fly and May-fly are the very ground of all Fly Angling.

Catterpillars, Oak worm, Cabbage-worm, Colewort-worm, Hawthorn-worm, or Grub, Crabtree-worm, or Iack,

Are Worms bred on Herbs or Trees, and may be kept with the Leaves of those Trees, or Herbs on which they are bred, by renewing the Leaves often in a day, and putting in fresh in∣stead of the old ones; the Boxes they are kept in should have a few small holes bored therein to let in the Air: But you may keep them best as is already directed, cap. 3, sect. 16. in Withy Bark.

These are good Baits for Chub, Roch, Dace, Trout, &c. and fish bite much better at the Oak-worm, or any Worm bred on Herbs or Trees, if you Angle with the same when they shew themselves on the top of the water (as with the natural Fly) than if you use it under: for when a gale of wind shaketh the Trees, the Worms fall into the water, and presently rise and float on the top, where fish rise at them as at Flies; and indeed they sink not, till tost and beaten by the Waves or Stream, and so they dye and lose their native colour, and then the fish (as you may perceive by those on your hook) value them not, although these sort of Baits are taken by Roch, Dace and Chub well at the top of the Water, yet you may Angle 18 inches or lower within the water, and they

do very well, or you may put one on the point of a dub-Fly hook, and dib with it, or dib with the Ash-Fly and one of these on the point of the Hook for Trouts. The Oak-worm is a very good Bait, and of a fine green colour, and in Ponds is a Murtherer of Roch and Dace.

To get these Baits, beat on an Oak, Crabtree or Hawthorn that grows over an High way or bare place, and they'l fall for you to gather; or go to Cabbages, or Coleworts, &c. and there seek for them.

Some think the Palmer-worm, Carerpillar, &c. are bred from a Dew left on the leaves of Trees, Herbs or Flowers, Coleworts or Caba∣ges, which being condensed by the Suns genera∣••ive heat, do in three days become living Crea∣tures, of several shapes and colours, some be∣••ng hard and tough, some smooth and soft, some ••re horned in their head, some in their tail, ••ome have none; some have hair on them, some ••one; some of them are bred of the eggs or ••pawn of the Catterpillars, and in time turn to ••e Butterflies; and generally all Flies being ••red of putrefaction, receive Life or vivifie as ••••e Suns heat furthers or disposes the Seminal ••ertue, by which they are bred unto anima∣••••on.

Bobs

9. Are of two sorts, the one found or bred 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mellow, resty, heathy, sandy, light soils, and

gathered after the Plow, when the Land is first broken up from Grazing (and is call'd the Earth-bob, * 1.1 white-grub or white-bait,) and is a Worm as big as two Maggots, hath a red head, and is all soft and full of whitish Guts; you may easily know in what ground most are, for there the Crows will be watchful, and follow the Plow very close, or you your self may dig one spade graft deep for them in sandy, heathy ground that has lain long rest from the Plow, and find sufficient of them.

These are a choice Bait from the 1 of No∣vember, until after mid April for Chub, Roch Dace, Salmon smelts, Trout, Bream and Carp.

When you gather these, put them into a Po•••••• or Firkin, with sufficient of the Soil they were bred in, to preserve them, then stop the Ves∣sel exceeding close, or all will spoil, set i•• where neither Wind nor Frost may offend them and they will keep all Winter for use.

Some, in the morning they go to Angle, boi•• those they intend to use that day, in Milk o•• Water, one or two minutes, and then pou•• them on a Sieve; but they'l not keep afte•• boyling above 2 days: in like manner yo•• may boil the brood of Wasps, Horners, Hum∣ble Bees, &c. some put these Baits in a littl•• Earth and Hony the day before they Angl•• with them for Carp or Breain, which boylin•• makes them tough, plump and white.

Cow-turd bob, or Clap-bait.

10. The other Bob is found under a Cow∣turd (from about May day, until about Mi∣chaelmas) that rests on such a ground as the other is found in, and is also called a Clap-bait in some places; 'tis an excellent Bait for Trout if you Angle with it as a Cod-bait is used on the top of the water with a bristled hook, only you may sometimes put a pair of Wings and head, such as is used for Dub-fly, on the top of the Hook. This Bait is almost like a Gentle, but bigger and is kept in wet Moss, but above 3 or 4 days it will not keep, it may be kept as Codbait is, at chap. 3. sect. 16. in withy Bark.

Fish of all sorts likewise take the Clapbait within water, as the Chub, Trout, Grayling, Roch, Dace, Carp, Tench, &c. I think for Trout and Smelt, you may imitate it with yellow Wax.

Codbait, Cadisworm, Cadbait or Case-worm

11. Are all one and the same Bait, and of these there are two sorts, some say 3, one bred under Stones that lie a little hollow in shallow Rivers, or small Brooks, in a very fine Gravel∣ly Case, or Husk, these are yellow when ripe; the other in Pits, Ponds, flow running Rivers, or Ditches, in Cases or Husks of Sticks, Straws,

or Rushes. Both are excellent for Trout and Grayling, and most sort of Fish, as Carp, Tench Chub, Roch, Dace and Bleak.

The green sort bred in Pits, Ponds, and Ditch∣es, are found in March before the yellow ones come, the other yellow sort come in May, or the end of April, and are out of season in July, a third sort, but smaller, come in again in Au∣gust.

12. These Codbaits cannot endure the Wind and Cold; therefore keep them in a thick wool∣len bag with some Gravel amongst them, wet them once a day if in the House, but oftner in hot weather; when you carry them forth, fill the bag full of water, then hold the mouth close that they drop not out, and so let the wa∣ter run from them; thus they have been kept three weeks; or you may put them in an earth∣en Pot full of water, with some Gravel at the bottom, and take them forth into your bag as you use them, but the best way of keeping them is as before is directed at cap. 3. sect. 16.

Various ways of Angling with the Cod-bait.

13. One may Angle several ways with Cod-baits, either at bottom with a float, or within a foot of the bottom, at mid-water or at top: but if in a clear water for the Trout or Grayling, use fine and smallest Lines almost length of Rod, and very light Leaded, if within

water. Sometimes you may (when you use a float) put on 2 or 3 together, and sometimes Cod-bait to very great effect is joyned with a Worm, and sometimes to an Artificial Fly to cover the point of the Hook; sometimes its put on the point of the Hook after an Oak fly, and then they dib with it, or, which I like bet∣ter, to let them sink 9 or 10 inches within the water, continually raising, and gently moving it. And some say Cod-balt when used by it self is always to be Angled with at the bottom, and with the finest tackle, and that it is for all times of the Year the most holding Bait of all other whatever, both for Trout and Grayling: Others there are that affirm The best way to Angle with Codbait, is to Fish with it on the top of the water for Trout or Grayling; as you do with the Fly, and it must stand on the shank of the Hook, as doth the Artificial Fly (for if it come into the bent of the Hook, the Fish will little or not at all value it, nor if you pull the blew gut out of it) and to make it keep that place, * 1.2 you must when you set on or whip your Hook, fasten a stiff Horse hair, or Hogs Bristle under the Silk with the end standing out about a Straws breadth at the head of the hook, from under the silk, and pointing towards the Line, and this will keep it either from stipping totally off, and from fli∣ding back into the bent of the hook, by which means your Whipping would be left naked and

bare, and is neither so sightly, nor so likely to be taken, to remedy which (because it often so falls out) some always whip the Hook they design for this Bait with the whitest Horse hair, which it self will resemble and shine like that bait, and consequently do more good or less harm than whipping with Silk or any other co∣lour; Thus used its an excellent bait for a Trout. You may if you please place a small slender Lead upon the shank of the Hook, to sink the bait, and draw the Codbait over the Lead.

Artificial Codbait.

You may make for Trouts and Salmon smelts, an Artificial or Counterfeit Cod-bait, by making the body of yellow Bee Wax, and the head of black Silk, and a little dubbing black; This you must be often raising from the bottom and let it sink again, or you may do it by making the body of yellow Wash-Leather, or rather Shammy or Buff, and the head of black Silk. In a muddy water, Trouts will not take the Codbait, therefore only Angle with them in clear waters.

Codbait is a very excellent Bait both for Trout and Grayling, and likewise for other Fish, as Chub, Roch, Dace, Salmon smelts, Pearch, Carp, Tench and Bleak; * 1.3 if you imitate the Cod-bait with yellow Bee-Wax, and make the head of

black dubbing, and black silk, and perform the same very artificially, its an in∣comparable Bait for Trouts and Salmon smelts: some make use of a piece of a small yellow Wax Can∣dle to imitate the Cod-bait, and put a dubt head and wings on top of the Hook.

Bark-worm or Ash-grub

14. Are all one and the same; and is plump, milk-white, bent round from head to tail, and exceeding tender, with a red head resembling a young Dore, or Humble Bee; its in season all the year, especially from Michaelmas until mid May or June. Its the most proper Bait save any but the Fly and Cod-bait for the Gray∣ling; but Chub, Roch and Dace will likewise take it.

Its found under the Bark of an Oak, Ash, Alder or Birch, especially if they lye a year or more after they are fallen: likewise its found in the body of a rotted Alder; if you break it with an Ax, but be careful only to shake the Tree in pieces with beating, and crush not the Worm, you may also find it under the Bark of the Stump of a Tree, if decayed.

He is very tender, therefore to be baited on such a bristled hook as before is directed for the Cod-bait, and hee's to be baited thus, viz. the hook is to be put in under the head or chaps

of the bait, and guided down the middle of the belly, without sustering it to peep out by the way, (for then it will issue out water and milk, till nothing but the skin remain, and the bent of the Hook will appear black through it) till the point of the hook come so low, that the head of the bait may rest and stick on the bri∣stle that comes out to hold it, by which means it can neither slip of it self, neither will the force of the Stream, nor quick pulling out on any mistake, strip it off. This bait is usually kept in bran, and thereby grows tougher. For Grayling you are to Angle with this bait with the smallest Lines, * 1.4 such as is directed for a Trout, with a running line in a clear water, and you are always to use a small Float, and the least weight of plumb or Lead you can, that will but sink, and that the swiftness of the Stream will allow, and your Bait is always to be 5 or 6 inches from the bottom; but for other Fish, as Chub, Roch, Dace, you may use Lines and Tackle proper for them, and Angle as is suitable for their humor.

Flag-worm, or Dock-worm

15. Are all one, to find them do thus: Go to an old Pond or Pit where there are store of Flags (or as some call them Sedges,) pull some up by the roots, then shake those roots in the

water, till all the mud and dirt be washed away from them, then amongst the small strings or fibres that grow to the roots, you'l sind little husks or cases of a reddish or yellowish, and some of other colours; open these carefully with a Pin, and you'l find in them a little small Worm, pale, yellow or white as a Gentle, but longer and flenderer, with rows of feet all down his belly, and a red head. This is an exceed∣ing good bait for Grayling, and likewise for Tench, Bream and Carp. If you pull the Flags in sunder, and cut open the round Stalk, you'l also find a Worm like the former in the husk, but tougher, and in that respect better: both these Worms are to be kept in bran, and baited on the bristled book as the Ash-grub, and when you Angle for Grayling with them, use a Float and the smallest Lines, and the bait to be 5 or 6 inches from ground. A Trout rarely takes either Ash-grub, or Flag-worm.

Gentles, or Maggots

16. Are kept with dead Flesh, beasts Liver or Suet, or which is better, keep, cleanse or seour them in Meal or Wheat-bran. You may breed them by pricking a beasts Liver full of Holes; hang it in the Sun in Summer time, and set under an old course barrel or small Ferkin with Clay and Bran in it; into which they will drop, and therein cleanse themselves, and be always ready for use, and thus Gentles may be

created until Michaelmas, but if you would fish with them from Michaelmas to May-Day, then get a dead Cat, Kite, or other Carrion, at the letter end of September, and let it be Fly-blown, and when the Gentles begin to be alive, stir, or creep, then bury it, and then in soft moist Earth, deep in the ground, that the Frost kill them not, and they'l serve to use till March or April following, about which time they'l turn to be Flies.

Gentiles are sometimes added to a Worm, and sometimes put on the point of a Dub-fly Hook, for Salmon Smelts, but most common∣ly they are used by themselves; when you go to Fish with Gentles, put them in a Horn (where∣in are small holes bored to let in air) with some Wheat-bran only. And some shave some of a Barbers Sweet Wash-ball into the bran.

Others anoint the Horn wherein the Gen∣tles are in bran, with Honey, and others per∣sume the Horn wherein they are kept with Musk and Civet, you may imitate a Gentle with white Jersey Wooll, if you be mindful to joyn it to another bait or fly, for Salmon-Smelts.

Gentles are very good baits for Roch, Dace, Chub, Carp, Tench, Barbel and Bleak.

Sheeps Blood.

17. Dry it in the Air upon a board or

trencher, till it become pretty hard, then cut it into small pieces, proportioned for the fize of the Hook, some add a little Salt to it, which keeps it from growing black, and say, it makes it not worse but better, its a good bait for Chub, Roch, and Dace, if rightly ordered.

Grain, Wheat, Malt.

18. When you use Grain, as Malt, Wheat, &c. boyl it soft in milk, or which is liked bet∣ter, in sweet Wort, and peel off the outward rind, which is the bran, and then use it, or if you will, you may then fry it in Honey and Milk, or steep it in some strong scented Oyls, as Amber, Spike, Polypody, Ivy, Annise, Tur∣pentine, &c. For Fish can smell, else Nature had bestowed Nostrils in vain on them, which were ridiculous to think. Grain is a good bait either in Winter or Summer, for Chub, Roch, Dace and Bleak.

Ant-Fly.

19. When the Ant-fly is plentifullest (which is in the end of June, July, August, and most of September) go to the Ant-Hills where they breed, take a great handful of the Earth, with as much of the root of the Grass that groweth on those Hillocks, put all into a large glass bot∣tle, then gather a great quantity of the black∣est Ant-flies, their bodies and wings unbruis∣ed

put them into a Bottle or Firkin, (if you would keep them long) first washed with Honey, or Water and Honey, these in any stream and cleer Water, are a deadly bait for Roch, Dace, and Chub, and you must Angle with them un∣der the Water, no less than a handful from the bottom.

Take an Ant-fly or May-fly, sink him with a little Lead to the bottom, near to the Piles, posts of a bridge, Post of a Weir, or any deep places, where Roches lye quietly, and then pull your Fly up very leisurely, and usually a Roch will follow your bait, to the very top of the water, and gaze on it there, and run at it, and take it, least the Fly escape him. Ant fly may be kept alive, as is directed two or three Months.

Young brood of Wasps, Hornets and Humble-Bees.

20. Dry them upon a Fire-shovel or Tile∣stone, or in an Oven, cooling after baking, lest they burn, and to avoid that, lay them on a thin board or chip, and cover them with ano∣ther, so supported as not to crush them, or else clap two cakes together, this way they will keep long, and stick on the Hook well: if you boyl them a minute or two in water or milk, they grow black in a few days, but are good for present use, these are singular good baits for Roch, Dace and Chub, and you may try them

for Carp, Tench and Bream, which I fancy will scarce refuse them.

Salmon Spawn

21. Is a very good bait for Chub. Take the Spawn and boil it so hard as to stick on the Hook, and then use it, or not boiled at all is u∣sed by some; others take the Spawn and put good store of Salt to it, and hang the same in a Linnen bag in the Kitchen, but far off the Fire, and it will be hard, and then they steep it the night before it is used in Strong Waters, Some exspert Anglers preserve Salmon-Spawn from pineing with Salt, or discolouring with moisture, by laying it upon Wooll in a pot, one layr of Spawn and another of Wooll, to the sil∣ling of the Pot, and tis a lovely bait for the Win∣ter and Spring, especially if used where Sal∣mons use to Spawn, for thither the Fish are ga∣thered, and there expect it.

Minnow Loach and Bull-Head

22. Are baits for Pike, Pearch, Chub, Eel, and great Trout; The Trout takes these baits, about a Foot within water, and sometimes low∣er in the deeps, in March, April and Sep∣tember, when the Wind is in the South, or Southwest, and bloweth strongly, curling the Waters and raising high waves, in Summer∣months, he takes them not in the day time, un∣less

the day be dark and the Wind high; and then you must add some Lead to the Line, and sink these baits to the bottom, for the Trout will not take them at mid-water, in a cleer water in Summer, and although these baits are only taken by Pike and Trout in a cleer water in the day time, yet you may bait night Hooks with them, and they are an excellent bait ei∣ther for Chub, Pike, Trout or Eel, in the night Minnows of a middle size and whitish are the best, tho the Minnow is a very good bait for Jack, Pearch and Trout, yet Experience tells me, that a small Loach or Bull-Head, his guil fins being cut off, are better than Minnows by many degrees. When you Angle with Min∣now, small Loach or Bull head for Trout, be sure the bait turn quick, and be always in mo∣tion.

Lamprey, Pride or Seaven Eyes

23. Are all one, and like unto small Eels, no thicker than a straw, and may be found in sandy muddy heaps in Rivers near the side, almost as easily as Worms in a Dung-hill, and are good baits either by night or day for Chubs and Eels, so are small Eel-brood for Chubs.

Snails.

24. Both the white and black Snal, his belly slit that the white appear, are good baits for

the Chub, very early in the morning, but in the heat of the day he cares not for them, like∣wise Trouts and Eels will take them at the night-Hook, in the night.

Grass-hopper.

25. Fish take them best, in the latter end of June, all July and August, cut off their Legs and outwards wings, the middle size are best. For Trout or Grayling, you may Lead your Hook on the shank, with a slender plate of Lead, made narrowest and slenderest at the bent of the Hook, that the plate may come o∣ver it, then draw him over the Lead, after put a lesser or a Cod-bait on the point, and keep your bait in continual motion, lifting it up and sinking again, pull off the Grashoppers upper∣most Wings, a Chub will likewise very well take this bait.

Others, and very expert Anglers too, use with good success, only the Tail or half of the Grashopper, putting on the Hook first a young Beetle, or Sharn-bud, which is found in a Cow-turd, of a day or two old, and they take of the higher hard Wings, and then she puts forth a long pair, coloured like those of the Pad Fly; this in a close water, and which breeds a large Trout, is as killing a bait as any what∣ever, but tis not so good in a shallow, cleer and open River, by the opinion of many, you may dib with the Grass-hopper, either for Chub or Toout.

Water-Cricket, Water-Lowse or Cree∣per

26. Are all one, and are excellent good for a Trout in March, April or before, 'tis found under hollow-stones in the Water, and you may fish within half a foot or a foot off the bottom, others let it drag on the ground, and others and expert Anglers too affirm, that if you dib∣ble in the streams about noon, on a Sun-shiny day, and so for two or three hours therewith in the Month of April for Trouts, that 'tis a Mur∣thering bait; 'tis always to be used in a cleer water, and is not found in every River. These creepers always turn into Stone-flys about May.

Lip-Berries

27. Whose true name is Aron-Berries, or Berries of Cookow-pints or Wake-Robin, these berries proceed from the Herb Aron, and are ripe and fit for use in July and August, and are of a lovely Red or Orange colour, and transparent, and are good baits for Roch, and especially Chub. Any Apothecary will shew you the Herb in the Spring, and do you look for the berries or fruit in July and August.

Cherries, Ras-berries and Black-Ber∣ries

28. Are baits for Chubs, and they will take

them best in Ponds or Rivers, where such trees grow near the water, and such fruit customa∣rily dropt into them, sometimes a Carp will take them.

Oat-Take or Cheese

29. Are good baits to Angle with for Chub, Roch, Dace and Barbel, when you use a ledger bait, your Cheese may be kept a day or two (if it be now new which it ought to be) in a wet linnen Cloth, or steeped a little in Honey.

To keep baits for Pike.

30. Carry baits for Pike, as small Roch, Dace, Gudgeon, Salmon Smelt, Minow, small Trout, and small Eels in Bran, which will dry up the slimy moisture, that is on them, and so keep them longer, and cause them stick more firmly on the Hook, besides there is a green watery substance, that issu∣eth out of Fish, which will infect and rot them, but the Bran dryeth up the same, and preven∣teth that mischief.

Oak-Fly, Ash-Fly, or Woodcock-Fly.

31. Is call'd by all these names, in different places, and is a very good Fly, from the begin∣ing of May, until the end of August, its a brownish fly, and found on the body of an Oak,

or Ash, and stands frequently with his head downwards, towards the root of the Tree, tis very proper for a Trout, and the best way to use it, is to put one on the Hook, and sometimes two, and at the point of the Hook a Cod-bait, and let them sink 6 Inches or a Foot into the water, and then raise it again gently, having a short dubbing Line, and it is a deadly bait for a Trout in a cleer water, and sometimes in stead of a Cod-bait use an Oak-worm, or green grub got of an Haw-thorn: some dub it with black wooll, Isabella coloured Mohair, and bright brownish Bears hair, wrapt on with yel∣low Silk, but the head of an Ash colour. Others dub it with an Orange tawny and black ground. Others with blackish Wooll and gold Twist about it; the wings must be the brown of a Mallards Feather, if you could but once dub it aright, there would be no need of the natural one.

Stone-Fly and green Drake.

32. I shall say nothing of them here, be∣cause I shall exactly Describe them when I come to Dub-fly Angling.

Hawthorn Fly

33. Is a black fly, to be found on every Hawthorn bush, after the leaves are come forth,

and is a Fly to be used for dibbing in some Ri∣vers.

Fish-Eyes.

34. Pull out the Eyes of those-Fish you catch, and put them on the Hook, and they are an excellent bait for most sort of Fish.

A Rule about Baits.

35. Fish take all sorts of baits most eagerly and freely, and with the least suspition or bog∣ling, when you present the same unto them in such order and manner as Nature affords them, or as themselves ordinary gather them; and some are peculiar to certain Countries and Rivers, of which every Angler may in his own place make his own Observation; as some of the foregoing baits will be taken in some particular Rivers, and not in others, and are sound in some Rivers and not in others, and the same baits are taken earlier in some Rivers than others, and sooner or later in some years than others, according to the quality and season of the year; although in general ground∣baits are useful and certain, almost in every River, yet so is not the Fly, which varies in co∣lour, kind or proportion, almost in every Ri∣ver, nay in the very same River at 5 or 6 miles distance.

Notes

• * 1.1

  White Grub and White bait.
• * 1.2

  This is called a bristled hook when thus ar∣med or whipt.
• * 1.3

  Some persons make the counterfeit Cod∣bait of yellow Bees-Wax, and an ar∣tificial dubb'd head, and a pair of wings at the head, and An∣gle therewith as at dub-fly.
• * 1.4

  How to Angle for a Grayling with an Ash-grith.