Chapter VI: Part 6

For the _Chub_, called by some a _Chevin_, by others a _Villain_. Bait your Hook with a Grass-hopper, find the hole where he lies, accompanied in a hot-day, with twenty or more, floating almost on the very superficies of the Water; choose which you think best, and fairest, and drop your Hook some two foot before him, and he will bite at it greedily, and cannot break hold with his _Leather Mouth_; let him play and tire, lest you break your Line. If you cannot get a _Grass-hopper_, then any Worm, or Fly you will. In cold Weather, Fish for him near the bottom, and the _Humble-Bee_ is the best Bait. Some appropriate Baits according to the Month, but I shall Omit that; The _Chub_ (being best and in his Prime in the Winter) a Paste made of Cheese, and Turpentine, is the only Bait to take him.

The _Carp_ is subtle, and full of Policy, will never bite in Cold Weather, but in Hot you cannot be too Early, or too Late. In _March_, he seldom refuseth the _Red-worm_, in _June_ the _Cad_ bait and the three next Months the _Grass-hopper_: Pastes that are sweet, of which I have spoken before, are very delightful to _Carps_: And especially, if you Bait your ground two or three dayes before you angle, with Pellets of course Paste, _Chickens-guts_, _Garbage_, &c. _Gentles_ anointed, and a Piece of _Scarlet_ dipt in _Honey_, put them on the Hook, is an approved way.

The _Dace_, _Dare_, _Rudd_, and _Roach_, being much of a kind, and feeding, I shall put together, and are easily taken with small Worms, _Bobs_, _Cad-baits_, _Flies_, _Sheeps-Blood_, all sorts of Worms bred on Trees or Herbs, _Paste_, _Wasps_, _Gnats_, _Lipberries_, &c. The Heads of the _Wasps_, being dipt in Blood, is good for _Dace_, and _Dare_; as is likewise the _Ant Fly_.

The _Eel_, takes great _Red-worms_, _Beef_, _Wasps_, _Guts_ of _Fowl_, or _Fish_, _Menows_, or small _Roaches_ are good Bait for Night Hooks; the Hooks being in the Mouth of the _Fish_. Now because this is very delightful to most, I shall prescribe three ways of taking them, as are most full of Pleasure. The first way is called; _Sniggling_, or _Broggling_ for _Eels_, thus: Take a strong Line and Hook baited with a _Lob_, or _Garden-Worm_, and observing where _Eels_ lurk in the day time, with a stick forked at the Top, gently put your Bait into the Hole, and if there be any _Eels_ there, you will not fail of a Bite, of as large as can be had, but pull not too hard lest you spoyl all. The second is called _Bobbing_, which is thus done: Take some large well scoured _Lobs_, and with a Needle, run some strong twisted Silk through them, from end to end, so many as are enough to wrap about a Board near a dozen times; tye them fast with the two ends of the Silk to hang in so many Hanks; then fasten all to a strong Cord, and a handful above the worms fasten a Plumbet of three quarters of a pound, and your Cord to a strong Pole, and in muddy Waters, you may Fish, and find the _Eels_ tug lustily, and when you think they have swallowed them, draw up your Line, and ashore with them. Lastly the _Eel-spear_ made with four teeth, jagged on both sides, stricken into the Mud, on the bottom of a River, and if you chance to strike where they lye, you infallibly take.

There is likewise an assured way of taking _Eels_, thus done: Take some Bottles of Hay, mixt with green _Osiers_ of _Willows_, Bait them with Sheeps-Guts, or other Beasts Garbage, sink them down in the middle, to the bottom of your Pond or by the Bank sides, having fastned a Cord to the Bottles, that you may twitch them up at your pleasure, and all the best _Eels_ will resort to them.

The _Flounder_, _Shad_, _Thwait_, _Suant_, and _Mullet_, are taken with _Red-Worms_ of all sorts, _Wasps_, and _Gentles_.

For the _Grayling_, you must head your Hook upon the shank, with a slender and narrow plate of Lead, that the Bait (a large Grass-hopper) may the more easily come over it; and at the point put a _Cad-bait_, and keep the Bait in continual motion; not forgetting to pull off the Grass-hoppers Wings.

The _Gudgeon_, takes the smallest Red-Worm, _Wasps_, _Gentles_, and _Cadbaits_. When you Fish for him, stir up the Sand or Gravel with a Pole, which will make them gather thither, and bite more eagerly.

The _Guiniad_, I shall remit speaking to, only mentioning it in course, being no where found, but in a place called _Pemble-Mere_, in which place they abound, as the River _Dee_ does with _Salmon_.

The _Pope_, or _Ruff_, is excellent for a young Angler, bites greedily, and quantities may be taken, by Baiting the Ground with fat Earth, and your Hook with small Red-Worms.

The _Pike_, loveth all sorts of Baits (unless the Fly) _Gudgeon_, _Dace_, _Roaches_ and _Loaches_; and young _Frogs_ in Summer time, of which the yellowest is best.

The _Pearch_, taketh all sorts of Earth-worms, especially the _Lob-worm_, and _Brandling_, well scowred, _Bobs_, _Oak-worms_, _Dors_, _Gentles_, _Cole-wort-worms_, _Wasps_, _Cad-baits_, and _Menow_, or a little _Frog_, the Hook being fastned through the skin of his Leg, towards the upper part of it. Be sure you give the _Pearch_ time enough to pouch his Bait, before you strike.

The _Salmon_, is taken best with _Lob-worms_, scented with the Oyl of Ivy Berries, or the Oyl of _Polypody_, of the _Oak_ mixt with _Turpentine_: Or the well scowred Garden-worm, is an excellent Bait: The _Salmon_, bites best in _May_, _June_, and _July_, at three a Clock in the Afternoon, if the Water be clear, a little Wind stirring, especially near the Sea.

The _Tench_, is a great lover of large Red worms first dipt in Tar. As also all sorts of Paste, made up with strong scented Oyls, or Tar, or a Paste made up of Brown Bread, and Honey. He will bite too at a _Cad-worm_, _Lob-worm_, _Flag-worm_, green _Gentle_, _Cadbait_, _Marsh-worm_, or soft boil'd _Bread-grain_, &c.

The _Torcoth_, being before mentioned, I only let you know, that he is only found, in the Pool _Linperis_ in _Carnarvon-shire_; and leave you to the _Welchmens_ description, both of him and his Bait.

The _Trout_, is fattest, and in his prime in _May_, and is caught with all sorts of Worms, especially _Brandlings_, commonly found in an Old _Dung-hill_, _Cow-dung_, _Hogs-dung_, or _Tanners-bark_: Also with Flies, Natural and Artificial, with young _Frogs_, _Menow_, _Marsh_, _Dock_, or _Flag-worms_; all sorts of _Cadbait_, _Dors_, _Bobs_, _Palmers_, _Gentles_, _Wasps_, _Hornets_, &c. and with the _Caterpillar_, used according to the Rule before prescribed for the _Grayling_. _Lastly_

The _Umber_, is taken as the _Trout_, just now mentioned; And therefore now to your Sport: To assist your well effecting which, I have but this to add; Cast into your Haunts where you use to Fish, once in four or five days, soft boiled Corn (or oftner for Carp, and Tench) Also Garbage, Beasts Livers, chopt Worms, Grains steept in Blood, to attract them to the place; and to keep them together, throw in half a handful of Grains or ground Malt: But in a stream, cast it above your Hook, that floating towards you you may draw the Fish thither.

_Sundry curious Baits for Fish._

These grow on the Cuccow pints, or wak-Robin, and are found in dry ditches, overgrown with Brambles; they are about the bigness of Pease, and in _July_ and _August_, are of a lovely transparent Red, and are excellent baits for Roaches, and Chubs; and for the first, two will serve, but for the latter, you may put four or five at a time on the Hook.

_Oat-Cakes with Cheese._

Beat these together into a Paste, the Cheese being new, and stick them together, with a little Honey, letting the Paste Lye all Night in a wet Linnen Cloath, then fit it up in baits, and cover your Hook with it.

_To keep Baits for the Pike, or Night-hooks._

For this, take a small Roach, Dace, Loach, Minnow, Smelt, small Trout, or Pearch, cutting off the Finns on the back, or small Eels well scoured in Wheat-Bran, which will keep them better and longer, taking a way the slime and watery substance, that causes them to rot or decay the sooner.

_Fishes Eyes._

Take out the Eyes of such Fish as you catch, and put three or four of them on a Hook, and they will prove an excellent bait for most sorts of Fish.

_Fat Bacon._

Cut this in little small Long snips, and especially at Snap, it is exceeding good to take a Chub or Pike, from the latter end of _August_ to the beginning of _April_.

_The Pith of the Back-bone of a Sheep._

Take out the Pith that runs through the Back-bone, and take off the Tough outward Skin, and leave the thin tender white Skin on, and bait with about half an Inch of it, and it takes a Chevin to admiration.

_Grain, Wheat, Malt._

Bruise either of these finely, fry them in Honey, make them up into Pasts with Oyl of Peter; and either in Winter or Summer they take Chub, Roach, Dace or Bleak.

_How to bring Fish, if any in the Pond or River, to the place you desire._

Boyl clean Barly in Water till it bursts, with Licorice, and a little Mummy; add some Honey and beat them together in a Mortar into a stiff Paste, and boyl about the quantity of a Wall-nut of this Paste with a quart of Barly till it grows Glutenous, and then lay it for a ground bait, and the Fish will flock about it from all parts.

_To make worms for Baits come out of the Ground._

Boyl an Ounce of Verdigrise in a quart of strong Vinegar, and Sprinkle a little in places where you suspect Worms are, and they will Crawl out of the Ground.

_Another approved Bait._

Take the Fat of a Heron, Mummy, and Galbanum; of each two drams, Scent them with a Grain of Musk, and make them up with two Ounces of _Aqua-vitæ_, stir them over a gentle Fire in an Earthen Vessel till they become thick, and with this rub the Hook, and end of the Line, and the Scent of it will draw the Fish to it; you must also have at the same time a proper Bait on your Hook for such Fish as are in the place you Angle.

_The Artificial Cod or Cad Bait._

Make the Body of yellow Bees-wax, and head of black Dubin and black Silk, or you may make the Body of yellow washed Leather, Shamey or Buff, and the head all of black Silk, and this is an Incomparable bait for Trout, Salmon or Smelts, and those that are natural are most Excellent baits for Trout, Grayling, Salmons, Tench, Roach, Chub, Dace, Carp, Tench, Ruff, Bream and Bleak; but then you must Fish with it in clear Water only.

_Rules and Considerations about Baits in general._

Fish in general take all such baits freely, as nature at that season affords in or near the places where you Angle, for being used to them they are not afraid of any deceit, but take them as their common food. And for flies in this case, in a Morning or Evening, when you go to Angle beat the bushes about the Rivers or Ponds, and such Flies as you rouse there, Fish with, either Natural, or imitate them by Art; as also see what Worms or other Insects fit for baits stick on the Leaves, Grass, or are in the Water; and in this Observation you cannot miss of good Sport; and when you have struck gently the backway, draw a little, and be not too hasty to take up before the Fish has had her play and spent her strength lest she break your Tackle. If your Fish be large, you must use your Landing Net.

_To take Fish in the Night with a Light._

This is an Admirable way to supply you with a sudden Dish, _viz._ Take a Glass in the form of a Urinal very deep, put as much Clay in the bottom of it as will sink the Mouth of it within an Inch of the Water, floating on pieces of Cork, tied about the Neck to keep it steadily upright, then place a Candle in it, by sticking it in the Clay-socket, anointing the out side of the Glass with Oyl of Asper. This Light will shine a great way in a still Water, so that the Fish being amazed at so unusual a Sight, will come out of their holes about it, and be detained with the scent of the Oyl so long, that with a Hoop-net you may take great store of them.

_Flies proper for every Month._

_For February_, little red brow Palmer flies, the Plain Hackle, the Silver Hackle, the Gold Hackle, the great Dun, the great blew Dun, the dark brown.

_For March_, the little whirling Dun, the early bright Brown, the whitish Dun, the Thorn-tree fly, the blue Dun, the little black Gnat, the little bright Brown.

_For April_, the small bright Brown, the little dark brown, the great whirling Dun, the Violet Fly, the yellow Dun, the Horse-flesh-fly.

_For May_, the Dun-cout, the Green-drake, the Stone-fly, the black May fly, the little yellow May Fly, the Gray-drake, the Camlet fly, the Turkey Fly, the yellow Palmer, the black-flat Fly, the light-brown, the little Dun, the white Gnat, the Peacock Fly, the Cow-Lady, the Cowturd-fly.

_For June_, From the first to the 24th the Green Drake and Stone Fly, the Owl fly, the Barn fly, the purple Hackle, the purple Gold Hackle, the flesh Fly, the little flesh Fly, the Peacock fly, the Ant fly, the brown Gnat, the little black Gnat, the Green-Grasshopper, the Dun Grasshopper, the Brown Hackle.

_For July_, The Badger fly, the Orange fly, the little white Dun, the Wasp fly, the Black Hackle, the Shell fly, the black brown Dun.

_For August_. The late Ant fly, the Fern fly, the white Hackle, the Harry-long-Legs.

_For September_. The Cammel brown fly, the late Badger fly.

_For October_. The same Flies that were used in _March_.

_The best time to Angle in._

1. If in the hot Months, cloudy Weather is best, when a small Gale stirs the Water.

2. When the Floods have carryed away the fish that sudden Showers Incumbered the Water withall, and the River and Pond retains its usual bounds, looking of a whitish Colour.

3. When a violent Shower has troubled or muddied the River, or a little before the Fish spawn, at what time they come into the sandy Ground to loosen their Bellies.

4. After Rains, when the Rivers keep their bounds, yet rise and run swiftly, for then they seek shelter in Creeks and little Rivulets running into the River.

5. Fish for Carp and Tench early, that is, before Sun rise, till Eight in the Morning, and from four in the Afternoon till after Sun set. In _March_, the beginning of _April_, and the latter end of _September_ and all Winter, when there are no great Frosts, the Fish bite in the warm of the day, the wind being still; but in Summer Months, Morning and Evening is best.

6. Fish rise best at the Fly, after the shower has muddied or Clouded the Waters, and Fish with Flies in generally _March_, _April_, _May_, and the beginning of _June_, is the best for Trout; you may Angle in a clear star light Night, for they are then roaving about for prey; he bites best in muddy water, and the best time of Fishing for him is from 8 to 10 in the Morning, and from three till five in the Afternoon.

7. The Salmon Fishery is best in _May_, _June_, _July_, and _August_, from three in the Afternoon till Sun set, and in the Morning as before.

8. The Barble bites best early in the Morning, till Ten or Eleven in _May_, _June_, _July_, and the beginning of _August_.

9. The Pearch and Ruff bites best all day in cool Cloudy Weather.

10. The Carp and Tench bite early and late in the still parts of the River; _June_, _July_, and _August_; as likewise do the Chevin, whose chief bait is white Snails, and small Lamperies.

11. The Breem bites from Sun rise till nine or ten in the Morning in muddy Water, especially the Wind blowing hard, for the most part; keeping in the Middle of the Pond or River in _May_, _June_, _July_, and _August_.

12. Angle for the Pike in clear Water, when it is stirred by a gentle Gale in _July_, _August_, _September_, and _October_, and then he bites best about three in the Afternoon; but all the day in Winter, and in _April_, _May_, and the beginning of _June_, early in the Morning and late at Evening.

13. The Roach and Dace bite all the day long at the Top of the Water at flies natural, and Artificial, also at Grass-hoppers, and all sorts of Worms, if the Water be shady.

14. The Gudgeon bites best in _April_, till she has Spawned in _May_, or if the Weather be cold till Wasp time, and at the end of the year all day long, near to a gentle Stream. Observe when you Angle for her, to stir and rake the Ground, and the Bait will be taken the better.

15. The Flounder in _April_ bites all day, _May_, _June_, and _July_, especially in swift Streams, yet he will bite, tho' not so freely in a still Deep.

_Of Fish-ponds_.

Grounds most fit and proper to be cast into a Pond, are those which are Marshy, or Boggy, or full of Springs, unfit for Grazing, or to be put to any profitable use besides. Of these the last, full of Springs, will yield the best Water; that which is Marshy will feed Fish; and what is Boggy is best for a Defence against Thieves.

First draw by small Trenches all the Springs into one place, and so drain the rest of the Ground; then mark out the Head of your Pond, and make it the highest part of the ground in the Eye, tho' it be the lowest in a Level: Cut the Trench of your Floodgate so, that when the Water is let out, it may have a swift fall: On each side of which Trench drive in stakes of Oak, Ash or Elm six foot long, and six Inches square; place these in Rows near four foot distance, as broad and wide from the _Floodgate_ as you intend the Head of your Pond shall go: Dig it in as big and large a Compass as the Ground will permit; throw your Earth amongst the said stakes, and ram it down hard till you have covered the stakes: Drive in as many new ones next the first stakes, and ram more Earth above them, with stakes above stakes till the head-sides be of a convenient height: Taking care, that the inside of your Banks be smooth, even, hard and strong, that the Current of the Water, may not wear off the Earth.

Having thus digged eight foot deep, that so it may carry six foot Water, pave the bottom and Banks of the Pond with Sods of _Flot-Grass_, laying them close together, pin them down with stakes and windings: This Grass is a great feeder of Fish, and grows naturally under Water. Stake to the bottom of one side of the Pond Bavens and Brush-Wood-Faggots, into which the Fish may cast their spawn. Lay Sods upon Sods, to nourish and breed Eels.

The Pond being made, let in Water, and thus store it: Put Carp, Bream and Tench by themselves: Pike, Pearch, Eel, and Tench (the Fishes Physician) by themselves; for Food of the greater Fishes, put store of Roach, Dace, Loach and Menow; and Lastly to one Melter, put three Spawners, and in three Years the increase will be great, and in five Years with difficulty be destroyed.

In 3 Years _Sue your Pond_; which you must continue to do, for the Roach will increase in such abundance, that eating up the sweet food, will make other Fish, as Carps, &c. be very lean: Therefore every Year view your Pond, and observe if any such Fry appears, thin them.

_To make_ Carps _grow large_, &c.

About _April_, when your Pond is low rake the sides where the Water is fallen with an Iron rake, sow _Hay-seeds_ there, rake it well; and at the end of Summer you shall have store of Grass: In _Winter_ the Water will over-top the Grass, and being Water enough for them, the Carps will resort to the sides, and feed briskly, and grow fat: Thus do every Summer, till you sue your Pond, and no River Carp can surpass them.

_FINIS._