the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第26章
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tile before the fire to make them tough。 Or； there is； at the root of docks or
flags or rushes； in watery places； a worm not unlike a maggot； at which
Tench will bite freely。 Or he will bite at a grasshopper with his legs nipt
off； in June and July； or at several flies； under water； which may be found
on flags that grow near to the water…side。 I doubt not but that there be
many other baits that are good； but I will turn them all into this most
excellent one； either for a Carp or Bream； in any river or mere： it was
given to me by a most honest and excellent angler； and hoping you will
prove both； I will impart it to you。
1。 Let your bait be as big a red worm as you can find； without a knot：
get a pint or quart of them in an evening； in garden…walks； or chalky
commons； after a shower of rain； and put them with clean moss well
washed and picked； and the water squeezed out of the moss as dry as you
can； into an earthen pot or pipkin set dry； and change the moss fresh every
three or four days； for three weeks or a month together； then your bait will
be at the best； for it will be clear and lively。
2； Having thus prepared your baits； get your tackling ready and fitted
for this sport。 Take three long angling…rods； and as many and more silk； or
silk and hair； lines； and as many large swan or goose…quill floats。 Then
take a piece of lead； and fasten them to the low ends of your lines： then
fasten your link…hook also to the lead； and let there be about a foot or ten
inches between the lead and the hook： but be sure the lead be heavy
enough to sink the float or quill； a little under the water； and not the quill
to bear up the lead； for the lead must lie on the ground。 Note； that your
link next the hook may be smaller than the rest of your line； if you dare
adventure； for fear of taking the Pike or Perch； who will assuredly visit
your hooks； till they be taken out； as I will show you afterwards； before
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either Carp or Bream will come near to bite。 Note also； that when the
worm is well baited； it will crawl up and down as far as the lead will give
leave； which much enticeth the fish to bite without suspicion。
3。 Having thus prepared your baits； and fitted your tackling； repair to
the river； where you have seen them swim in skulls or shoals。 in the
summer…time； in a hot afternoon； about three or four of the clock； and
watch their going forth of their deep holes； and returning； which you may
well discern； for they return about four of the clock； most of them seeking
food at the bottom； yet one or two will lie on the top of the water； rolling
and tumbling themselves； whilst the rest are under him at the bottom； and
so you shall perceive him to keep sentinel： then mark where he plays most
and stays longest； which commonly is in the broadest and deepest place of
the river； and there； or near thereabouts； at a clear bottom and a convenient
landing…place； take one of your angles ready fitted as aforesaid； and sound
the bottom； which should be about eight or ten feet deep； two yards from
the bank is best。 Then consider with yourself； whether that water will rise
or fall by the next morning； by reason of any water…mills near； and；
according to your discretion； take the depth of the place； where you mean
after to cast your ground…bait； and to fish； to half an inch； that the lead
lying on or near the ground…bait； the top of the float may only appear
upright half an inch above the water。
Thus you having found and fitted for the place and depth thereof； then
go home and prepare your ground…bait； which is； next to the fruit of your
labours； to be regarded。
The GROUND…BAIT。
You shall take a peck； or a peck and a half； according to the greatness
of the stream and deepness of the water； where you mean to angle； of
sweet gross…ground barley…malt； and boil it in a kettle； one or two warms
is enough： then strain it through a bag into a tub； the liquor whereof hath
often done my horse much good； and when the bag and malt is near cold；
take it down to the water…side； about eight or nine of the clock in the
evening； and not before： cast in two parts of your ground…bait； squeezed
hard between both your hands； it will sink presently to the bottom； and be
sure it may rest in the very place where you mean to angle： if the stream
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run hard； or move a little； cast your malt in handfuls a little the higher；
upwards the stream。 You may； between your hands； close the malt so fast
in handfuls； that the water will hardly part it with the fall。
Your ground thus baited； and tackling fitted； leave your bag； with the
rest of your tackling and ground…bait； near the sporting…place all night； and
in the morning； about three or four of the clock； visit the water… side； but
not too near； for they have a cunning watchman； and are watchful
themselves too。
Then； gently take one of your three rods； and bait your hook； casting it
over your ground…bait； and gently and secretly draw it to you till the lead
rests about the middle of the ground…bait。
Then take a second rod； and cast in about a yard above； and your third
a yard below the first rod； and stay the rods in the ground： but go yourself
so far from the water…side； that you perceive nothing but the top of the
floats； which you must watch most diligently。 Then when you have a bite；
you shall perceive the top of your float to sink suddenly into the water： yet；
nevertheless； be not too hasty to run to your rods； until you see that the
line goes clear away； then creep to the water…side； and give as much line as
possibly you can： if it be a good Carp or Bream； they will go to the farther
side of the river： then strike gently； and hold your rod at a bent； a little
while； but if you both pull together； you are sure to lose your game； for
either your line； or hook； or hold； will break： and after you have overcome
them； they will make noble sport； and are very shy to be landed。 The Carp
is far stronger and more mettlesome than the Bream。
Much more is to be observed in this kind of fish and fishing； but it is
far fitter for experience and discourse than paper。 Only； thus much is
necessary for you to know； and to be mindful and careful of； that if the
Pike or Perch do breed in that river； they will be sure to bite first； and must
first be taken。 And for the most part they are very large； and will repair to
your ground…bait； not that they will eat of it； but will feed and sport
themselves among the young fry that gather about and hover over the bait。
The way to discern the Pike and to take him； it you mistrust your Bream
hook； for I have taken a Pike a yard long several times at my Bream hooks；
and sometimes he hath had the luck to share my line； may be thus：
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Take a small Bleak； or Roach； or Gudgeon； and bait it； and set it； alive；
among your rods； two feet deep from the cork； with a little red worm on
the point of the hook： then take a few crumbs of white bread； or some of
the ground…bait； and sprinkle it gently amongst your rods。 If Mr。 Pike be
there； then the little fish will skip out of the water at his appearance； but
the live…set bait is sure to be taken。
Thus continue your sport from four in the morning till eight； and if it
be a gloomy windy day； they will bite all day long： but this is too long to
stand to your rods； at one place； and it will spoil your evening sport that
day； which is this。
About four of the clock in the afternoon repair to your baited place；
and as soon as you come to the water…side； cast in one…half of the rest of
your ground…bait； and stand off； then whilst the fish are gathering together；
for there they will most certainly come for their supper； you may take a
pipe of tobacco： and then； in with your three rods； as in the morning。 You
will find excellent sport that evening； till eight of the clock： then cast in
the residue of your ground…bait； and next morning； by four of the clock；
visit them again for four hours； which is the best sport of all； and after that；
let them rest till you and your friends have a mind to more sport。
From St。 James's…tide until Bartholomew…tide is the best； when they
have had all the summer's food； they are the fattest。
Observe； lastly； that after three or four days' fishing together； your
game will be very shy and wary； and you shall hardly get above a bite or
two at a baiting： then your only way is to desist from your sport； about two
or three days： and in the meantime； on the place you late baited； and again
intend to bait； you shall take a turf of green but short grass； as big or
bigger than a round trencher； to the top of this turf； on the green side； you
shall； with a needle and green thread； fasten one by one； as many little red
worms as will near cover all the turf： then take a round board or trencher；
make a hole in the middle thereof； and through the turf placed on the
board or trencher； with a string or cord as long as is fitting； tied to a pole；
let it down to the bottom of the water； for the fish to feed upon without
disturbance about two or three days； and after that you have drawn it away；
you may fall to； and enjoy your former recreation。
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B。 A。
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The fourth day…continued
On the Tench
Chapter XI
Piscator
The Tench； the physician of fishes； is observed to love pond
