The Compleatly Abridged Angler Part II

This is part two / book two which is included in later editions of The Compleat Angler. This book / second part is written by Charles Cotton instead of Walton. It was first published in the 1676 5th edition of The Compleat Angler. While we at Fiscian.com have abridged the original writing, Cotton's writing was very concise in comparison to Walton's original work. Our abridgment of part one is also available on the site.

Methodology of Trout & Grayling Angling

Why then Sir, to begin methodically, as a Master in any Art should do (and I will not deny, but that I think my self a Master in this) I shall divide Angling for Trout or Grayling into these three ways:

1. At the top
2. At the bottom
3. In the middle

Which three ways, though they are all of them (as I shall hereafter endeavour 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 Flie;
• At the bottom with a ground-bait.
• In the middle with a Minnow, or Ground-bait.

Angling at the Top is of two sorts:

1. With a quick Flie: or,
2. With an artificial Flie.

That we call Angling at the bottom is also of two sorts:

1. By hand: or
2. With a Cork, or Float.

That we call Angling in the middle is also of two sorts:

1. With a Minnow for a Trout: or
2. With a Ground-bait 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.

Table of Contents

1	Methodology of Trout & Grayling Angling
2	Of Flie Fishing
3	How to Make a Flie
4	On Artificial Flies
5	Angling at the Bottom
6	Angling in the Middle
7	How to Dress & Cook Trout and Grayling

Of Flie Fishing

Flie-Fishing or Fishing at the top, is, as I said before, of two sorts,

1. With a natural and living Flie: or,
2. With an artificial and made Flie.

First then of the natural Flie; 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-Flies; though I have made use of a third that way, called the Chamblet-Flie with very good success for Grayling, but never saw it angled with by any other after this manner, my Master only excepted, who did 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 Dibling, 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 Flie 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 per adventure be remov'd to some other place, if it be in the still deeps, where he is always in motion, and roving up and down to look for prey, though in a stream, you may alwaies 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 forc't to tugg 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 allow'd to be the stronger. I should now give you a Description of those Flies, their shape and colour, and then give you an account of their breeding, and withal shew you how to keep and use them; but shall defer that to their proper place and season.

But I must now come to the second way of angling at the top, which is with an artificial Flie, which also I will shew you how to make before I have done, but first shall acquaint 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 curles the water in the still deeps, where (excepting in May and June, that the best Trouts will lye 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 govern'd by the breadth of the River you shall chuse to angle at; and for a Trout River, one of five or six yards long is commonly enough, and longer (though never so neatlyand 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 York-shire, which are all of one piece; that is to say, of several, six, eight, ten or twelve pieces, so neatly piec't, and ty'd together with fine thred below, and Silk above, as to make it taper, like a switch, and to ply with a true bent to your hand; and these are too light, being made of Fir wood, for two or three lengths, nearest to the hand, and of other wood nearer to the top, that a Man might very easily manage the longest of them that ever I saw, with one hand; and these when you have given over Angling for a season, being taken to pieces, and laid up in some dry place, may afterwards be set together again in their former postures, and will be as strait, sound, and good as the first hour they were made, and being laid in Oyl and colour according to your Master Waltons direction, will last many years.

The length of your line, to a Man that knows how to handle his Rod, and to cast it, is no manner of encumbrance, excepting in woody places, and in landing of a Fish, which every one that can afford to Angle for pleasure, has some body to do for him, and the length of line is a mighty advantage to the fishing at distance; and to fish fine, and far off is the first and principal Rule for Trout Angling.

Your Line in this case should never be less, nor ever exceed two hairs next to the hook, for one (though some I know will pretend to more Art, than their fellows) is indeed too few, the least accident, with the finest hand being sufficient to break it: but he that cannot kill a Trout of twenty inches long with two, in a River clear of wood and weeds, as this and some others of ours are, deserves not the name of an Angler.

Now to have your whole line as it ought to be, two of the first lengths, nearest the hook, should be of two hairs a piece, the next three lengths above them of three, the next three above them of four, and so of five, and six, and seven, to the very top: by which means your Rod and tackle will in a manner be taper from your very hand to your hook; your line will fall much better and straiter, and cast your Flie to any certain place to which the hand and eye shall direct it, with less weight and violence, that would otherwise circle the water, and fright away the fish.

In casting your line, do it always before you, and so that your flie may first fall upon the water, and as little of your line with it as is possible, though if the wind be stiff, you will then of necessity be compell'd to drown a good part of your line to keep your flie in the water: and in casting your flie, you must aim at the further, or nearer Bank, as the wind serves your turn, which also vvill be with, and against you on the same side several times in an hour, as the River vvinds in its course, and you will be forc't to Angle up and down by turns accordingly; but are to endeavour, as much as you can, to have the wind evermore on your back, and always be sure to stand as far off the Bank as your length will give you leave when you throw to the contrary side, though when the wind will not permit you so to do, and that you are constrain'd to Angle on the same side whereon you stand, you must then stand on the very brink of the River, and cast your Flie at the utmost length of your Rod and Line, up or down the River as the gale serves.

It only remains, touching your Line, to enquire whether your two hairs next to the hook, are better twisted, or open; and for that, I should declare that I think the open way the better, because it makes less shew inthe water, but that I have found an inconvenience, or two, or three, that have made me almost weary of that way; of which one is, that without dispute they are not so strong twisted, as open; another, that they are not easily to be fastned of so exact an equal length in the arming, that the one will not cause the other to bagge, by which means a Man has but one hair, upon the matter, to trust to; and the last is, that these loose flying hairs are not only more apt to catch upon every twig, or bent they meet with; but moreover the hook, in falling upon the water, will very often rebound, and fly back betwixt the hairs, and there stick (which in a rough water especially, is not presently to be discern'd by the Angler) so as the point of the hook shall stand revers't, by which means your Flie swims backward, makes a much greater circle in the water, and till taken home to you, and set right, will never raise any Fish, or if it should, I am sure, but by a very extraordinary chance, can hit none.

Having done with both these ways of fishing at the top; the length of your Rod, and Line and all: I am next to teach you how to make a Flie; and afterwards of what dubbing you are to make the several Flies I shall hereafter name to you.

How to Make a Flie

In making a Flie then (which is not a Hackle or Palmer Flie for of those, and their several kinds we shall have occasion to speak every Month in the Year) you are first to hold your hook fast betwixt the fore finger and thumb of your left hand, with the back of the shanck upwards, and the point towards your fingers end; then take a strong small silk of the colour of the Flie you intend to make, wax it well with wax of the same colour too (to which end you are always (by the way) to have wax of all colours about you) and draw it betwixt your finger and thumb, to the head of the shanck, and then whip it twice or thrice about the bare hook, which, you must know, is done, both to prevent slipping, and also that the shanck of the hook may not cut the hairs of your Towght, which sometimes it will otherwise do) which being done, take your Line, and draw it likewise betwixt your finger and thumb, holding the Hook so fast, as only to suffer it to pass by, untill you have the knot of your Towght almost to the middle of the shanck of your hook, on the inside of it, then whip your silk twice or thrice about both hook and Line, as hard as the strength of the silk will permit, which being done, strip the feather for the wings proportionable to the bigness of your Flie, placing that side downwards, which grew uppermost before, upon the back of the hook, leaving so much only as to serve for the length of the wing of the point of the plume, lying revers't from the end of the shanck upwards, then whip your silk twice, or thrice about the root end of the feather, hook, and towght, which being done clip off the root end of the feather close by the arming, and then whip the silk fast and firm about the hook, and tought untill you come to the bend of the hook: but not further (as you do at London; and so make a very unhandsom, and, in plain English, a very unnatural and shapeless Flie) which being done, cut away the end of your tought, and fasten it, and then take your dubbing which is to make the body of your Flie, as much as you think convenient, and holding it lightly, with your hook, betwixt the finger, and thumb of your left hand, take your silk with the right, and twisting it betwixt the finger and thumb of that hand, the dubbing will spin it self about the silk, which when it has done, whip it about the arm'd hook backward, till you come to the setting on of the wings; and then take the feather for the wings, and divide it equally into two parts, and turn them back towards the bend of the Hook, the one on the one side, and the other on the other of the shanck, holding them fast in that posture betwixt the fore finger, and thumb of your left hand, which done, warp them so down, as to stand, and slope towards the bend of the hook, and having warpt up to the end of the shanck, hold the Flie fast betwixt the finger and thumb of your left hand, and then take the silk betwixt the finger, and thumb of your right hand, and where the warping ends, pinch or nip it with your thumb nail against your finger, and strip away the remainder of your dubbing from the silk, and then with the bare silk whip it once or twice about, make the wings to stand in due order, fasten, and cut it off; after which with the point of a needle raise up the dubbing gently from the warp, twitch off the superfluous hairs of your dubbing, leave the wings of an equal length (your Flie will never else swim true) and the work is done. And this way of making a Flie (vvhich is certainly the best of all other) vvas taught me by a Kinsman of mine, one Captain Henry Jackson, a near neighbour, an admirable Flie Angler, by many degrees the best Flie maker, that ever I yet met with. And now that I have told you how a Flie is to be made, you shall presently see me make one, vvith vvhich you may peradventure take a Trout this morning, notwithstanding the unlikeliness of the day; for it is now nine of the Clock, and Fish will begin to rise, if they vvill rise to day; I will walk along by you, and look on, and after dinner I vvill proceed in my lecture of Flie-Fishing.

On Artificial Flies

To begin then where I left off, my Father Walton tells us but of 12 Artificial flies only, to Angle with at the top, and gives their names; of which some are common with us here; and I think I guess at most of them by his description, and I believe they all breed, and are taken in our Rivers, though we do not make them either of the same Dubbing, or fashion. And it may be in the Rivers about London, which I presume he has most frequented, and where 'tis likely he has done most execution, there is not much notice taken of many more: but we are acquainted with several others here (though perhaps I may reckon some of his byother names too) but if I do, I shall make you amends by an addition to his Catalogue. And although the forenamed great Master in the Art of Angling (for so in truth he is) tells you that no man should in honesty catch a Trout till the middle of March, yet I hope he will give a Man leave sooner to take a Grayling, which, as I told you, is in the dead Months in his best season; and do assure you (which I remember by a very remarkable token) I did once take upon the sixt day of December one, and only one, of the biggest Graylings and the best in season, that ever I yet saw, or tasted; and do usually take Trouts too, and with a Flie, not only before the middle of this Month, but almost every year in February, unless it be a very ill spring indeed, and have sometimes in January, so early as New-years-tide, and in frost and snow taken Grayling in a warm sunshine day for an hour or two about Noon; and to fish for him with a Grub it is then the best time of all.

I shall therefore begin my Flie-fishing with that Month (though I confess very few begin so soon, and that such as are so fond of the sport as to embrace all opportunities, can rarely in that Month find a day fit for their purpose) and tell you, that upon my knowledg these Flies in a warm sun, for an hour or two in the day, are certainly taken.

January:
1. A red brown with wings of the Male of a Malard almost white: the dubbing of the tail of a black long coated Cur, such as they commonly make muffs of; for the hair on the tail of such a Dog dies, and turns to a red Brown, but the hair of a smoth coated Dog of the same colour will not do, because it will not dye, but retains its natural colour, and this flie is taken in a warm sun, this whole Month thorough.
2. There is also a very little bright Dun Gnat, as little as can possibly be made, so little as never to be fisht with, with above one hair next the hook, and this is to be made of a mixt dubbing of Martins fur, and the white of a Hares scut; with a very white, and small wing; and 'tis no great matter how fine you fish, for nothing will rise in this Month but a Grayling, and of them I never at this season saw any taken with a Flie, of above a foot long in my life: but of little ones about the bigness of a smelt in a warm day, and a glowing Sun, you may take enough with these two Fishes, and they are both taken the whole North through.

February:
1. Where the Red-brown of the last Month ends, another almost of the same colour begins with this, saving that the dubbing of this must be of something a blacker colour, and both of them warpt on with red silk; the dubbing that should make this Flie, and that is the truest colour, is to be got of the black spot of a Hogs ear: not that a black spot in any part of the Hog will not afford the same colour; but that the hair in that place is by many degrees softer, and more fit for the purpose: his wing must be as the other, and this kills all this Month, and is call'd the lesser Red-brown.
2. This Month also a plain Hackle, or palmer-Flie made with a rough black body, either of black Spaniels furr, or the whirl of an Estridg feather, and the red Hackle of a Capon over all, will kill, and if the weather be right make very good sport.
3. Also a lesser Hackle with a black body also, silver twist over that, and a red feather over all, will fill your pannier if the Month be open, and not bound up in Ice, and snow, with very good Fish; but in case of a frost and snow, you are to Angle only with the smallest Gnats, Browns and Duns you can make, and with those are only to expect Graylings no bigger, than sprats.
4. In this Month, upon a whirling round water, we have a great Hackle, the body black, and wrapped with a red feather of a Capon untrim'd; that is, the whole length of the Hackle staring out (for we sometimes barb the Hackle feather short all over; sometimes barb it only a little, and sometimes barb it close underneath, leaving the whole length of the feather on the top, or back of the Flie which makes it swim better, and as occasion serves kills very great Fish.
5. We make use also in this Month of another great Hackle the body black, and rib'd over with Gold twist, and a red feather over all, which also does great execution.
6. Also a great Dun, made with Dun Bears Hair, and the wings of the grey feather of a Mallard near unto his tail, which is absolutely the best Flie can be thrown upon a River this Month, and with which an Angler shall have admirable sport.
7. We have also this Month the great blew Dun, the dubbing of the bottom of Bears hair next to the roots, mixt with a little blew Camlet, the wings of the dark grey feather of a Mallard.
8. We have also this Month a Dark-Brown, the dubbing of the brown hair of the Flanck of a brended Cow, and the wings of the grey-Drakes feather.

And note, that these several Hackels, or Palmer Flies, are some for one Water, and one Skye, and some for another, and according to the change of those, we alter their size, and colour, and note also, that both in this, and all other Months of the Year, when you do not certainly know what Flie is taken; or cannot see any Fish to rise, you are then to put on a small Hackle, if the Water be clear, or a bigger if something dark, untill you have taken one, and then thrusting your finger thorough his Guils, to pull out his Gorge, which being open'd with your knife, you will then discover what Flie is taken, and may fit your self accordingly.

For the making of a Hackle, or Palmer Flie my Father Walton has already given you sufficient direction.

March:
For this Month you are to use all the same Hackels, and Flies with the other, but you are to make them less.
1. We have besides for this Month a little Dun call'd a whirling Dun (though it is not the whirling Dun indeed, which is one of the best Flies we have) and for this the dubbing must be of the bottom fur of a Squirrels tail and the wing of the grey feather of a Drake.
2. Also a bright brown, the dubbing either of the brown of a Spaniel, or that of a Cows flanck, with a Grayling.
3. Also a whitish Dun made of the roots of Camels hair, and the wings of the grey feather of a Mallard.
4. There is also for this Month a Flie, call'd the Thorn Tree Flie, the dubbing an absolute black mixt with eight or ten hairs of Isabella colour'd Mohair, the body as little as can be made, and the wings of a bright Malards feather, an admirable Flie, and in great repute amongst us for, a killer.
5. There is besides this another blew Dun, the dubbing of which it is made being thus to be got. Take a small tooth comb, and with it comb the neck of a black Grey hound, and the down that sticks in the teeth, will be the finest blew, that ever you saw. The wings of this Flie can hardly be too white, and he is taken about the tenth of this Month, and lasteth till the four and twentieth.
6. From the tenth of this Month also till towards the end, is taken a little black Gnat; the dubbing either of the fur of a black water-Dog, or the down of a young black water-Coot, the wings of the Male of a Mallard as white as may be, the body as little as you can possibly make it, and the wings as short as his body.
7. From the Sixteenth of this Month also to the end of it, we use a bright brown, the dubbing for which, is to be had out of a Skinners Lime-pits, and of the hair of an abortive Calf, which the lime will turn to be so bright, as to shine like Gold, for the wings of this Flie, the feather of a brown Hen is best; which Flie is also taken till the tenth of April.

April:
All the same Hackles, and Flies that were taken in March will be taken in this Month also, with this distinction only concerning the Flies, that all the browns be lapt with red silk, and the Duns with yellow.
1. To these a small bright brown, made of Spaniels fur, with a light grey wing; in a bright day, and a clear water is very well taken.
2. We have too a little dark brown, the dubbing of that colour, and some violet Camlet mixt, and the wing of the grey feather of a Mallard.
3. From the sixth of this Month to the tenth, we have also a Flie call'd the violet Flie, made of a dark violet stuff, with the wings of the grey feather of a Mallard.
4. About the twelfth of this Month comes in the Flie call'd the whirling Dun, which is taken every day about the mid time of day all this Month through, and by fits from thence to the end of June, and is commonly made of the down of a Fox Cub, which is of an Ash colour at the roots, next the skin, and ribb'd about with yellow silk, the wings of the pale grey feather of a Mallard.
5. There is also a yellow Dun, the dubbing of Camels hair, and yellow Camlet, or wool mixt, and a white grey wing.
6. There is also this Month another little brown, besides that mention'd before, made with a very slender body, the dubbing of dark brown, and violet Camlet mixt, and a grey wing; which though the direction for the making be near the other, is yet another Flie, and will take when the other will not, especially in a bright day, and a clear water.
7. About the twentieth of this Month comes in a Flie call'd the Horse-flesh Flie, the dubbing of which is a blew Mohair, with pink colour'd, and red Tammy mixt, a light colour'd wing, and a dark brown head. This flie is taken best in an Evening, and kills from two hours before Sun set till twilight, and is taken the Month thorough.

May:
And now Sir, that we are entring into the Month of May, I think it requisite to beg not only your attention; but also your best patience; for I must now be a little tedious with you, and dwell upon this Month longer than ordinary; which that you may the better endure, I must tell you, this Month deserves, and requires to be insisted on, for as much as it alone, and the next following afford more pleasure to the Flie-Angler, than all the rest; and here it is that you are to expect an account of the Green Drake, and stone-flie, promis'd you so long ago, and some others that are peculiar to this Month, and part of the Month following, and that (though not so great either in bulk, or name) do yet stand in competition with the two before named, and so, that it is yet undecided amongst the Anglers to which of the pretenders to the Title of the May-flie, it does properly, and duly belong, neither dare I (where so many of the learned in this Art of Angling are got in dispute aboutthe controversie) take upon me to determine; but I think I ought to have a vote amongst them, and according to that priviledg, shall give you my free opinion, and peradventure when I have told you all, you may incline to think me in the right.

Why that's encouragement enough; and now prepare your self for a tedious Lecture; but I will first begin with the flies of less esteem (though almost any thing will take a Trout in May) that I may afterwards insist the longer upon those of greater note, and reputation; know therefore that the first flie we take notice of in this Month, is call'd the Turky-flie, the.
1. The dubbing ravell'd out of some blew stuff, and lapt about with yellow silk, the wings of a grey Mallards feather.
2. next a great Hackle; or Palmer-flie, with a yellow body ribb'd with Gold twist, and large wings of a Mallards feather dyed yellow, with a red Capons Hackle over all,
3. Then a black flie, the dubbing of a black Spaniels fur, and the wings of a grey Mallards feather.
4. After that a light brown with a slender body, the dubbing twirl'd upon small red silk, and rais'd with the point of a needle, that the ribs or rows of silk may appear through the wings of the grey feather of a Mallard.
5. Next a little Dun, the dubbing of a Bears dun whirl'd upon yellow silk, the wings of the grey feather of a Mallard.
6. Then a white Gnat, with a pale wing, and a black head.
7. There is also this Month a flie call'd the Peacock-flie, the body made of a whirl of a Peacocks feather, with a red head, and wings of a Mallards feather.
8. We have then another very killing flie, known by the name of the Dun-Cut, the dubbing of which is a Bears dun, with a little blew, and yellow mixt with it, a large dun wing, and two horns at the head, made of the hairs of a Squirrels tail.
9. The next is the Cow-Lady, a little flie, the body of a Peacocks feather, the wing of a red feather, or strips of the red hackle of a Cock.
10. We have then the Cow-turd flie; the dubbing light brown, and yellow mixt, the wing the dark grey feather of a Mallard. And note that besides these abovementioned, all the same Hackles and Flies, the Hackles only brighter, and the Flies smaller, that are taken in April, will also be taken this Month, as also all Browns, and Duns: and now I come to my Stone-Flie, and Green-Drake, which are the Matadores for Trout and Grayling, and in their season kill more Fish in our Derbyshire Rivers, than all the rest past, and to come, in the whole Year besides.
But first I am to tell you, that we have four several flies which contend for the Title of the May-Flie, namely,

• The Green-Drake,
• The Stone-Flie,
• The Black Flie, and
• The little yellow May-Flie.

And all these have their Champions and Advocates to dispute, and plead their priority; though I do not understand why the two last named should; the first two having so manifestly the advantage, both in their beauty, and the wonderful execution they do in their season.
11. Of these the Green-Drake comes in about the twentieth of this Month, or betwixt that, and the latter end (for they are sometimes sooner, and sometimes later according to the quality of the Year) but never well taken till towards the end of this Month, and the beginning of June. The Stone-Flie comes much sooner, so early as the middle of April; but is never well taken till towards the middle of May, and continues to kill much longer than the Green-Drake stays with us, so long as to the end almost of June; and indeed, so long as there are any of them to be seen upon the water; and sometimes in an Artificial Flie, and late at night, or before Sun rise in a morning, longer.

Now both these Flies (and I believe many others, though I think not all) are certainly, and demonstratively bred in the very Rivers where they are taken, our Caddis or Cod-bait which lye under stones in the bottom of the water, most of them turning into those two Flies, and being gather'd in the husk, or crust, near the time of their maturity, are very easily known, and distinguisht, and are of all other the most remarkable, both for their size, as being of all other the biggest (the shortest of them being a full inch long, or more) and for the execution they do, the Trout, and Grayling being much more greedy of them, than of any others; and indeed the Trout never feeds fat, nor comes into his perfect season, till these Flies come in.

Of these the Green-Drake never discloses from his husk, till he be first there grown to full maturity, body, wings, and all, and then he creeps out of his cell, but with his wings so crimpt, and ruffled, by being prest together in that narrow room, that they are for some hours totally useless to him, by which means he is compelled either to creep upon the flags, sedges, and blades of grass (if his first rising from the bottom of the water be near the banks of the River) till the Air, and Sun, stiffen and smooth them! or if his first appearance above water happen to be in the middle, he then lies upon the surface of the water like a Ship at Hull (for his feet are totally useless to him there, and he cannot creep upon the water as the Stone-Flie can) untill his wings have got stiffness to fly with, if by some Trout, or Grayling he be not taken in the interim (which ten to one he is) and then his wings stand high, and clos'd exact upon his back, like the Butterfly, and his motion in flying is the same. His Body is in some of a paler, in others of a darker yellow (for they are not all exactly of a colour) rib'd with rows of green, long slender, and growing sharp towards the tail, at the end of which he has three long small whisks of a very dark colour, almost black, and his tail turns up towards his back like a Mallard, from whence questionless he has his name of the green-Drake. These (as I think I told you before) we commonly dape, or dibble with, and having gather'd great store of them into a long draw box, with holes in the Cover to give them Air (where also they will continue fresh, and vigorous a night or more) we take them out thence by the wings, and bait them thus upon the Hook. We first take one (for we commonly Fish with two of them at a time) and putting the point of the Hook into the thickest part of his Body under one of his wings, run it directly through and out at the other side, leaving him spitted cross upon the Hook, and then taking the other, put him on after the same manner, but with his head the contrary way, in which posture they will live upon the Hook, and play with their wings for a quarter of an hour, or more: but you must have a care to keep their wings dry, both from the water, and also that your fingers be not wet when you take them out to bait them; for then your bait is spoil'd.

Having now told you how to Angle with this Flie alive; I am now to tell you next, how to make an Artificial Flie, that will so perfectly resemble him, as to be taken in a rough windy day, when no Flies can lye upon the water; nor are to be found about the Banks and sides of the River, to a wonder, and with which you shall certainly kill the best Trout, and Grayling in the River.

The Artificial Green-Drake then is made upon a large Hook, the Dubbing, Camels hair, bright Bears hair, the soft down that is comb'd from a Hogs bristles, and yellow Camlet well mixt together, the body long, and ribb'd about with green silk, or rather yellow waxt with green-wax, the whisks of the tail of the long hairs of sables, or fitchet, and the wings of the white grey feather of a Mallard dyed yellow, which also is to be dyed thus:
Take the root of a Barbary Tree, and shave it, and put to it Woody viss, with as much Alum as a Walnut, and boyl your feathers in it with Rain water; and they will be of a very fine yellow.

I have now done with the Green-drake excepting to tell you, that he is taken at all hours during his season, whilst there is any day upon the Sky; and with a made Flie, I once took, ten days after he was absolutely gone, in a Cloudy day, after a showr, and in a whistling wind, five and thirty very great Trouts, and Graylings betwixt five, and eight of the Clock in the Evening, and had no less than five, or six Flies with three good hairs a piece taken from me in despite of my heart, besides.
12. I should now come next to the Stone-Flie, but there is another Gentleman in my way: that must of necessity come in between, and that is the Grey-Drake, which in all shapes, and dimensions is perfectly the same with the other, but quite almost of another colour, being of a paler, and more livid yellow, and green, and ribb'd with black quite down his body, with black shining wings, and so diaphanous and tender, cob-web like, that they are of no manner of use for Daping; but come in, and are taken after the Green-Drake, and in an Artificial Flie kill very well, which Flie is thus made, the Dubbing of the down of a Hogs bristles, and black Spaniels fur mixt, and ribb'd down the body with black silk, the whisks of the hairs of the beard of a black Cat, and the wings of the black grey feather of a Mallard.
13. This same Stone-Flie has not the patience to continue in his Crust, or Husk till his wings be full grown; but so soon as ever they begin to put out, that he feels himself strong (at which time we call him a Jack) squeezes himself out of Prison, and crawls to the top of some stone, where if he can find a chink that will receive him, or can creep betwixt two stones, the one lying hollow upon the other (which, by the way, we also lay so purposely to find them) he there lurks till his wings be full grown, and there is your only place to find him (and from thence doubtless he derives his name) though, for want of such convenience, he will make shift with the hollow of a Bank, or any other place where the wind cannot come to fetch him off. His body is long, and pretty thick, and as broad at the tail almost, as in the middle; his colour a very fine brown, ribb'd with yellow, and much yellower on the belly than the back, he has two or three whisks also at the tag of his tail, and two little horns upon his head, his wings, when full grown, are double, and flat down his back of the same colour, but rather darker than his body, and longer than it; though he makes but little use of them, for you shall rarely see him flying, though often swimming, and padling with several feet he has under his belly upon the water, without stirring a wing: but the Drake will mount Steeple height into the Air, though he is to be found upon flags and grass too, and indeed every where high and low, near the River; there being so many of them in their season, as were they not a very inoffensive insect, would look like a Plague; and these Drakes (since I forgot to tell you before, I will tell you here) are taken by the Fish to that incredible degree, that upon a calm day you shall see the still deeps continually all over circles by the Fishes rising, who will gorge themselves with those Flies, till they purge again out of their Guills; and the Trouts are at that time so lusty and strong, that one of eight, or ten inches long, will then more struggle, and tug, and more endanger your Tackle, than one twice as big in winter: but pardon this digression. This Stone-flie then we dape or dibble with as with the Drake, but with this difference, that whereas the green-Drake is common both to stream and still, and to all hours of the day, we seldome dape with this but in the streams, (for in a whistling wind a made Flie in the deep is better, and rarely, but early and late, it not being so proper for the mid-time of the day; though a great Grayling will then take it very well in a sharp stream, and here and there a Trout too: but much better toward 8, 9, 10. or eleven of the clock at night, at which time also the best Fish rise, and the latter the better, provided you can see your Flie, and when you cannot, a made Flie will murder, which is to be made thus: The dubbing of bears dun with a little brown and yellow Camlet very well mixt; but so plac'd that your Flie may be more yellow on the belly and towards the tail underneath than in any other part, and you are to place two or three hairs of a black Cats beard on the top of the hook in your arming, so as to be turn'd up, when you warp on your dubbing, and to stand almost upright, and staring one from another, and note that your Flie is to be ribb'd with yellow silk, and the wings long, and very large, of the dark grey feather of a Mallard.
14. The next May-Flie is the black Flie, made with a black body of the whirle of an Ostridg-feather, rib'd with silver twist, and the black hackle of a Cock over all; and is a killing Flie, but not to be nam'd with either of the other.
15. The last May-Flie (that is of the four pretenders) is the little yellow May-Flie, in shape exactly the same with the green Drake, but a very little one, and of as bright a yellow as can be seen; which is made of a bright yellow Camlet, and the wings of a white grey feather died yellow.
16. The last Flie for this month (and which continues all June, though it comes in the middle of May) is the Flie called the Camlet-Flie, in shape like a moth with fine diapred▪ or water-wings, and with which (as I told you before) I sometimes used to dibble; and Grayling will rise mightily at it. But the artificial Flie (which is only in use amongst our Anglers) is made of a dark brown shining Camlet, rib'd over with a very small light green silk, the wings of the double grey feather of a Mallard; and 'tis a killing Flie for small Fish, and so much for May.

June:
From the first to the four and twentieth, the green-Drake and Stone-Flie are taken (as I told you before.)
1. From the twelfth to the four and twentieth late at night is taken a Flie, called the Owl-Flie; the dubbing of a white Weesel's tail, and a white Grey wing.
2. We have then another Dunne, call'd the Barm-flie, from it's yesty colour, the dubbing of the fur of a yellow dun Cat, and a grey wing of a Mallards feather.
3. We have also a hackle with a purple body, whipt about with a red Capons feather.
4. As also a gold twist Hackle with a purple body, whipt about with a red Capons feather.
5. To these we have this month a Flesh-flie, the dubbing of a black Spaniels furre, and blew wool mixt, and a grey wing.
6. Also another little flesh-flie, the body made of the whirle of a Peacocks feather, and the wings of the grey feather of a Drake.
7. We have then the Peacock-flie, the body and wing both made of the feather of that bird.
8. There is also the flying Ant, or Ant-flie, the dubbing of brown and red Camlet mixt, with a light grey wing.
9. We have likewise a brown Gnat, with a very slender body of brown and violet Camlet well mixt, and a light grey wing.
10. And another little black Gnat, the dubbing of black mohair, and a white Grey wing.
11. As also a green Grashopper, the dubbing of green and yellow Wool mixed, rib'd over with green Silk, and a red Capons feather over all.
12. And lastly a little dun Grashopper, the body slender made of a dun Camlet, and a dun hackle at the top.

July:
First all the small flies that were taken in June, are also taken in this month.
1. We have then the Orange Flie, the dubbing of Orange Wool, and the wing of a black feather.
2. Also a little white dun, the body made of white Mohair, and the wings blew of a Herons feather.
3. We have likewise this month a Wasp-flie, made either of a dark brown dubbing, or else the furre of a black Cats tail, ribb'd about with yellow silk, and the wing of the grey feather of a Mallard.
4. Another flie taken this month is a black Hackle, the body made of the whirle of a Peacock's feather, and a black hackle feather on the top.
5. We have also another made of a Peacocks whirle without wings.
6. Another flie also is taken this month call'd the shel-flie, the dubbing of yellow-green Jersey Wool, and a little white Hoggs hair mixt, which I call the Palm-flie, and do believe it is taken for a Palm, that drops off the willows into the water; for this flie I have seen Trouts take little pieces of moss, as they have swam down the River, by which I conclude that the best way to hit the right colour is to compare your dubbing with the Moss, and mix the colours as near as you can.
7. There is also taken this month a black blew Dun, the dubbing of the furre of a black Rabbet mixt with a little yellow, the wings of the Feather of a blew Pigeons wing.

August:
The same Flies with July.
1. Then another Art-flie, the dubbing of the black brown hair of a Cow, some red warpt in for the Tagg of his tail, and a dark wing, a killing flie.
2. Next a flie call'd the Fern-flie, the dubbing of the fur of a Hares neck, that is of the colour of Fearn, or Brackin, with a darkish grey wing of a Mallards feather, a killer too.
3. Besides these we have a white Hackle, the body of white Mo-hair, and wrapped about with a white Hackle Feather, and this is assuredly taken for Thistle-down.
4. We have also this month a Harry-long-leggs, the body made of Bears dun, and blew Wool mixt, and a brown hackle Feather over all.
Lastly in this month all the same browns and duns are taken, that were taken in May.

September:
This month the same Flies are taken, that are taken in April.
1. To which I shall only add a Camel-brown Flie, the dubbing pull'd out of the lime of a Wall whipt about with red Silk, and a darkish grey Mallards feather for the wing.
2. And one other for which we have no name; but it is made of the black hair of a Badgers skin mixt with the yellow softest down of a sanded Hog.

October:
The same Flies are taken this month, that were taken in March.

November:
The same Flies that were taken in February, are taken this month also.

December:
Few men angle with the Flie this month, no more than they do in January: but yet if the weather be warm (as I have known it sometimes in my life to be, even in this cold Country where it is least expected) then a brown that looks red in the hand, and yellowish betwixt your eye and the Sun; will both raise and kill in a clear water, and free from snowbroth: but at the best 'tis hardly worth a man's labour.

And now Sir, I have done with Flie-fishing, or angling at the top, excepting once more to tell you, that of all these (and I have named you a great many very killing flies) none are fit to be compared with the Drake and Stone-flie, both for many and very great fish; and yet there are some daies, that are by no means proper for the sport, and in a calm you shall not have near so much sport even with daping, as in a whistling gale of wind, for two reasons, both because you are not then so easily discovered by the fish, and also because there are then but few flies can lye upon the water; for where they have so much choice, you may easily imagine they will not be so eager and forward to rise at a bait, that both the shadow of your body, and that of your Rod, nay of your very line, in a hot calm day will, in spite of your best caution, render suspected to them: but even then, in swift streams, or by sitting down patiently behind a willow bush, you shall do more execution than at almost any other time of the year with any other flie, though one may sometimes hit of a day, when he shall come home very well satisfied with sport with several other Flies: but with these two, the green Drake and the Stone-flie, I do verily believe I could some daies in my life, had I not been weary of slaughter, have loaden a lusty boy, and have sometimes, I do honestly assure you, given over upon the meer account of satiety of sport; which will be no hard matter to believe, when I likewise assure you, that with this very flie, I have in this very River that runs by us in three or four hours taken thirty, five and thirty, and forty of the best Trouts in the River. What shame and pity is it then, that such a River should be destroyed by the basest sort of people, by those unlawful ways of fire and netting in the night, and of damming, groping, spearing, hanging and hooking by day, which are now grown so common, that, though we have very good Laws to punish such Offenders, every Rascal does it, for ought I see, impunè.

To conclude, I cannot now in honesty but frankly tell you, that many of these flies I have nam'd, at least so made as we make them here, will peradventure do you no great service in your Southern Rivers, and will not conceal from you, but that I have sent flies to several friends in London, that for ought I could ever hear, never did any great feats with them, and therefore if you intend to profit by my instructions, you must come to angle with me here in the Peak; and so, if you please, let us walk up to Supper, and to morrow, if the day be windy, as our daies here commonly are, 'tis ten to one but we shall take a good dish of fish for dinner.

Angling at the Bottom

So Sir, Now we are here, and set: let me have my instructions for Angling for Trout, and Grayling at the bottom; which though not so easy, so cleanly, nor (as 'tis said) so Gentile a way of Fishing, as with a Flie; is yet (if I mistake not) a good holding way and takes Fish when nothing else will.

You are in the right, it does so: and a worm is so sure a bait at all times, that, excepting in a Flood, I would I had laid thousand pounds that I kill'd Fish more, or less with it, Winter or Summer every day throughout the Year; those days always excepted, that, upon a more serious account always ought so to be. But not longer to delay you, I will begin, and tell you, that Angling at the bottom is also commonly of two sorts (and yet there is a third way of Angling with a Ground-bait, and to very great effect too, as shall be said hereafter) namely.

• By Hand: or
• With a Cork, or Float.

That we call Angling by hand is of three sorts.

The first with a line about half the length of the Rod, a good weighty plum, and three hairs next the Hook, which we call a running Line, and with one large Brandling, or a dew-worm of a moderate size, or two small ones of the first, or any other sort, proper for a Trout, of which my Father Walton has already given you the names, and sav'd me a labour; or indeed almost any worm whatever; for if a Trout be in the humour to bite, it must be such a worm as I never yet saw, that he will refuse; and if you Fish with two, you are then to bait your hook thus. You are first to run the point of your hook in at the very head of your first worm, and so down through his body till it be past the knot, and then let it out, and strip the worm above the arming (that you may not bruise it with your fingers) till you have put on the other by running the point of the Hook in below the knot, and upwards through his body towards his head till it be but just cover'd with the head, which being done, you are then to slip the first worm down over the arming again, till the knots of both worms meet together.

The second way of Angling by hand, and with a running Line, is with a Line something longer than the former, and with Tackle made after this same manner. At the utmost extremity of your Line, where the Hook is always plac'd in all other ways of Angling, you are to have a large Pistol, or Carabine Bullet, into which the end of your Line is to be fastned with a Peg, or Pin even and close with the Bullet, and about half a foot above that, a branch of Line, of two, or three handfuls long; or more, for a swift stream, with a Hook at the end thereof baited with some of the forenamed worms, and another half foot above that another arm'd, and baited after the same manner; but with another sort of worm, without any lead at all above: by which means you will always certainly find the true bottom in all depths, which with the Plums upon your Line above you can never do, but that your bait must always drag whilst you are sounding (which in this way of Angling must be continually) by which means you are like to have more trouble, and peradventure worse success. And both these ways of Angling at the bottom are most proper for a dark, and muddy water, by reason that in such a condition of the stream, a Man may stand as near as he will, and neither his own shadow; nor the roundness of his Tackle will hinder his sport.

The third way of Angling by hand with a Ground-bait, and by much the best of all other, is, with a Line full as long, or a yard and half longer than your Rod, with no more than one hair next the hook, and for two or three lengths above it, and no more than one small pellet of shot for your plum, your Hook little, your worms of the smaller Brandlings very well scour'd, and only one upon your hook at a time, which is thus to be baited. The point of your hook is to be put in at the very tagg of his tail, and run up his body quite over all the arming, and still stript on an inch at least upon the hair, the head and remaining part hanging downward; and with this line and hook thus baited you are evermore to angle in the streams, always in a clear rather than a troubled water, and always up the River, still casting out your worm before you with a light one-handed Rod, like an artificial Flie, where it will be taken, sometimes at the top, or within a very little of the Superficies of the water, and almost always before that light plumb can sink it to the bottom, both by reason of the stream, and also that you must always keep your worm in motion by drawing still back towards you, as if you were angling with a flie; and believe me, whoever will try it, shall find this the best way of all other to angle with a worm, in a bright water especially; but then his rod must be very light and pliant, and very true and finely made, which with a skilful hand will do wonders, and in a clear stream is undoubtedly the best way of angling for a Trout, or Grayling with a worm, by many degrees, that any man can make choice of, and of most ease and delight to the Angler. To which let me add, that if the Angler be of a constitution that will suffer him to wade, and will slip into the tail of a shallow stream, to the Calf of the leg or the knee, and so keep off the bank, he shall almost take what fish he pleases.

The second way of angling at the bottom is with a Cork or float; and that is also of two sorts.

• With a worm: or,
• With a Grub or Caddis.

With a worm you are to have your line within a foot, or a foot and half as long as your rod, in a dark water with two, or if you will with three; but in a clear water never with above one hair next the hook, and two or three for four or five lengths above it, and a worm of what size you please, your plums fitted to your Cork, your Cork to the condition of the River (that is to the swiftness or slowness of it) and both, when the water is very clear, as fine as you can, and then you are never to bait with above one of the lesser sort of Brandlings; or, if they are very little ones indeed, you may then bait with two after the manner before directed.

When you angle for a Trout, you are to do it as deep, that is, as near the bottom as you can, provided your bait do not drag, or if it do, a Trout will sometimes take it in that posture: if for a Grayling, you are then to fish further from the bottom, he being a fish that usually swims nearer to the middle of the water, and lyes alwaies loose: or however is more apt to rise than a Trout, and more inclin'd to rise than to descend even to a Groundbait.

With a Grub or Caddis, you are to angle with the same length of Line; or if it be all out as long as your Rod, 'tis not the worse, with never above on hair for two or three lengths next the hook, and with the smallest Cork, or float, and the least weight of plumb you can that will but sink, and that the swiftness of your stream will allow; which also you may help, and avoid the violence of the Current, by angling in the returnes of a stream, or the Eddies betwixt two streams, which also are the most likely places wherein to kill a Fish in a stream, either at the top or bottom.

Of Grubs for a Grayling, the Ash-Grub, which is plump, milk-white, bent round from head to tail, and exceeding tender with a red head; or the Dock worm, or Grub of a pale yellow, longer, lanker, and tougher than the other, with rows of feet all down his belly, and a red head also are the best, I say for a Grayling, because, although a Trout will take both these (the Ash-Grub especially) yet he does not do it so freely as the other, and I have usually taken ten Graylings for one Trout with that bait, though if a Trout come, I have observed, that he is commonly a very good one.

These baits we usually keep in Bran, in which an Ash-Grub commonly grows tougher, and will better endure baiting, though he is yet so tender, that it will be necessary to warp in a piece of a stiff hair with your arming, leaving it standing out about a straw breadth at the head of your hook, so as to keep the Grub either from slipping totally off when baited, or at least down to the point of the hook, by which means your arming will be left wholly naked and bare, which is neither so sightly, nor so likely to be taken; though to help that (which will however very oft fall out) I always arm the hook I design for this Bait with the whitest horse-hair I can chuse, which it self will resemble, and shine like that bait, and consequently will do more good, or less harm than an arming of any other colour. These Grubs are to be baited thus, the hook is to be put in under the head or Chaps of the bait, and guided down the middle of the belly without suffering it to peep out by the way (for then (the Ash-Grub especially) will issue out water and milk, till nothing but the skin shall remain, and the bend of the hook will appear black through it) till the point of your hook come so low, that the head of your bait may rest, and stick upon the hair that stands 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, upon any mistake, strip it off.

Now the Caddis, or Cod-bait (which is a sure killing bait, and for the most part, by much, surer, than either of the other) may be put upon the Hook, two or three together, and is sometimes (to very great effect) joyn'd to a worm, and sometimes to an Artificial Flie to cover the point of the Hook; but is always to be Angled with at the bottom (when by it self especially) with the finest Tackle; and is for all times of the year, the most holding bait of all other whatever, both for Trout, and Grayling.

There are several other baits besides these few I have nam'd you, which also do very great execution at the bottom, and some that are peculiar to certain Countries, and Rivers, of which every Angler may in his own place, make his own observation: and some others that I do not think fit to put you in mind of, because I would not corrupt you, and would have you, as in all things else I observe you to be a very honest Gentleman, a fair Angler. And so much for the second sort of Angling for a Trout at the bottom.

Angling in the Middle

Angling in the middle then for a Trout or Grayling is of two sorts.

1. With a Pink or Minnow for a Trout: or,
2. With a Worm, Grub or Caddis for a Grayling.

For the first, it is with a Minnow half a foot, or a foot within the Superficies of the water, and as to the rest that concerns this sort of angling, I shall wholly refer you to Mr. Walton's direction, who is undoubtedly the best Angler with a Minnow in England; only in plain truth I do not approve of those baits he keeps in salt, unless where the Living ones are not possibly to be had (though I know he frequently kills with them, and peradventure more, than with any other, nay I have seen him refuse a living one for one of them) and much less of his artificial one; for though we do it with a counterfeit flie, me thinks it should hardly be expected, that a man should deceive a fish with a counterfeit fish. Which having said, I shall only add, and that out of my own experience, that I do believe a Bull-head, with his Guill-fins cut off (at some times of the year especially) to be a much better bait for a Trout, than a Minnow, and a Loach much better than that, to prove which I shall only tell you that I have much oftner taken Trouts with a Bull-head or a Loach in their Throats (for there a Trout has questionless his first digestion) than a Minnow; and that one day especially, having Angled a good part of the day with a Minnow, and that in as hopeful a day, and as fit a water, as could be wisht for that purpose, without raising any one Fish; I at last fell to't with the worm, and with that took fourteen in a very short space, amongst all which, there was not to my remembrance, so much as one, that had not a Loach or two, and some of them three, four, five, and six Loaches, in his throat and stomach; from whence I concluded, that had I Angled with that bait, I had made a notable days work of't.

But after all, there is a better way of Angling with a Minnow, than perhaps is fit either to teach or to practice; to which I shall only add, that a Grayling will certainly rise at, and sometimes take a Minnow, though it will be hard to be believ'd by any one, who shall consider the littleness of that Fishes mouth, very nnfit to take so great a bait: but is affirm'd by many, that he will sometimes do it, and I my self know it to be true, for though I never took a Grayling so, yet a Man of mine once did, and within so few paces of me, that I am as certain of it, as I can be of any thing I did not see, and (which made it appear the more strange) the Grayling was not above eleven inches long.

I must here also beg leave of your Master, and mine, not to controvert, but to tell him, that I cannot consent to his way of throwing in his Rod to an overgrown Trout, and afterwards recovering his Fish with his Tackle. For though I am satisfied he has sometimes done it, because he says so; yet I have found it quite otherwise, and though I have taken with the Angle, I may safely say, some thousands of Trouts in my life, my top never snapt, though my Line still continued fast to the remaining part of my Rod (by some lengths of Line curl'd round about my top, and there fastned with waxt silk, against such an accident) nor my hand never slackt, or slipt by any other chance, but I almost always infallibly lost my Fish, whether great, or little, though my Hook came home again. And I have often wondred how a Trout should so suddainly disengage himself from so great a Hook, as that we bait with a Minnow, and so deep bearded, as those Hooks commonly are, when I have seen by the forenam'd accidents, or the slipping of a knot in the upper part of the Line, by suddain, and hard striking, that though the Line has immediately been recover'd, almost before it could be all drawn into the water, the Fish clear'd, and gone in a moment. And yet to justifie what he says, I have sometimes known a Trout, having carried away a whole Line, found dead three, or four days after with the Hook fast sticking in him: but then it is to be suppos'd he had gorg'd it, which a Trout will do, if you be not too quick with him when he comes at a Minnow, as sure and much sooner than a Pike; and I my self have also, once, or twice in my life, taken the same Fish with my own Flie sticking in his Chaps, that he had taken from me the day before, by the slipping of a Hook in the arming: but I am very confident a Trout will not be troubled two hours with any Hook, that has so much as one handful of Line left behind with it, or that is not struck through a bone, if it be in any part of his mouth only; nay, I do certainly know, that a Trout so soon as ever he feels himself prickt, if he carries away the Hook, goes immediately to the bottom, and will there root like a Hog upon the Gravel, till he either rub out, or break the Hook in the middle. And so much for this first sort of Angling in the middle for a Trout.

The second way of Angling in the middle, is with a Worm, Grub, Caddis, or any other Ground-bait for a Grayling, and that is with a Cork, and a foot from the bottom, a Grayling taking it much better there, than at the bottom, as has been said before; and this always in a clear water, and with the finest Tackle.

To which we may also, and with very good reason, add the third way of Angling by hand with a Ground-bait, as a third way of Fishing in the middle, which is common to both Trout, and Grayling, and (as I said before) the best way of Angling with a Worm, of all other I ever try'd whatever.