A reel or winch is a most necessary addition to the rod and line, as it enables you to vary the length of your line at pleasure, and to play your fish. The best winches are those to fix in a groove on the rod, and are fastened with bra.s.s ferrules made for the purpose on the b.u.t.t, because you can fasten such a winch to any sized joint.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There are three kinds of winches, check, multipliers, and plain: the multiplying winch is apt soon to get out of order, unless carefully and constantly oiled, and is otherwise the least efficient and most expensive of the three. I would recommend young anglers at first, to purchase a plain and strong winch, which will answer every purpose, and be much less expensive. A check winch is, however, the best.

REEL LINES

Are mostly made of silk and horsehair, twisted or plaited together, but some are made entirely of silk. I prefer the latter, as it is less likely to twist, runs more freely, and is less likely to rot. The length of lines vary from fifteen to eighty yards; but for general purposes thirty or five-and-thirty yards is quite long enough. The line should always be unwound after a day's fishing, as, if it is allowed to remain wet on the reel, it soon rots.

HOOKS.

Hooks are to be bought at the angling shops, of all sizes, and suitable for the kind of fish to be caught. There are great controversies among adept anglers about hooks, which are sometimes as violent as those upon politics or religion. Some anglers prefer what are called the Limerick hooks, some the Kendal; while others again prefer the Kirby or Sneckbend. We are hooked to the Kirby, as we consider those to be by far the best for holding the fish--a most important particular. The hooks found most suitable for the following fish are these:--

BARBEL, 1, 7, 8, 9.

BLEAK, 11,12, 13.

BREAM, 10.

CARP, 7, 8, 9.

CHUB, 8, 9.

DACE, 10, 11, 12.

EELS, 8.

FLOUNDERS, 3.

GRAYLING, 10, 12.

GUDGEON, 9, 10.

LOACHES, 13.

MILLER'S THUMB, 13.

MINNOW, 13.

PERCH, 7.

ROACH, 10, 11, 12.

RUDD, 10.

RUFFE, 10.

SMELT, 9, 10.

TENCH, 9, 10.

TROUT, 6, 10.

HOW TO BAIT A HOOK.

To bait a hook with a worm, use the following method: First enter the point of the hook close to the top of the worm's head, and carry it carefully down to within a quarter of an inch of its tail; to do which you must gently squeeze or work up the worm with your left thumb and finger, while with your right you are gradually working the hook downwards. The small lively piece of the worm at the point of the hook moving about will entice the fish; but, mind, if too much of the worm hangs loose, though it may entice fish to nibble, yet they will seldom take the whole in their mouth, so as to enable the angler to hook them; on the contrary, he is frequently tantalized with a bite, and, when he strikes, finds part of his worm gone, and his fish too. Therefore, to bait a hook well with a worm is necessary to ensure hooking a fish when you strike; and it consists in drawing the worm without injuring it (use him as you would a friend, Walton says) quite over and up the shank of the hook, leaving only a small lively part of the tail below. If you bait with half a worm, prefer the tail end, and enter the point of the hook into the top part, and bring it down nearly to the end of the tail, leaving only a very small piece of it loose. If you bait with two worms on the same hook, draw the first up above the shank, while you put the second on in the same manner as directed with one worm, but enter the hook near the tail of the second worm; then draw the first one down on the second over the shank of the hook, and all will then be well covered, and the bait will be a very _bon-bon_ for perch, chub, carp, barbel, and all large fish; but when angling for gudgeon, and other small fish, half a red worm is sufficient, and the tail end is best. If blood-worms are used, put on two or three, in doing which be tender, or you will burst them.

BAITS.

The princ.i.p.al baits are--

1. THE LOB-WORM.

2. THE BRANDLING.

3. THE MARSH-WORM.

4. THE TAGTAIL.

5. THE ASH-GRUB.

6. COWDUNG BAIT.

7. CATERPILLARS.

8. CABBAGE-WORMS.

9. CRAB-TREE-WORMS.

10. GENTLES.

11. CAD-WORMS.

12. FLAG-WORMS.

13. GRa.s.sHOPPERS.

14. WASP-GRUB.

15. c.o.c.kCHAFERS.

16. BREAD PASTE.

17. CHEESE PASTE.

1. _Lob-worms_ are found in gardens or churchyards, late in the evening; they have a red head, a streak down the back, and a broad tail. This is a good worm for salmon, chub, trout, barbel, eels, and large perch.

2. _Brandling_ is found in old dunghills, rotten earth or cow-dung, and the best in tanners' bark. It is a good bait for any kind of fish.

3. The _Marsh-worm_ is found in marshy grounds, or on the banks of rivers; and is a good bait for trout, perch, gudgeon, grayling, and bream.

4. The _Tagtail_ is found in marly lands or meadows, after a shower; and is a good bait for trout when the water is muddy.

5. The _Ash-grub_ is found in the bark of trees. It is a good bait for grayling, dace, roach, or chub.

6. _Cowdung Bait_ is found under cowdung, from May to Michaelmas; and is good bait for grayling, dace, roach, or chub.

7. _Caterpillars_ can be found on almost every tree or plant. Almost any small caterpillar will answer.

8. The _Cabbage caterpillar_ is found on cabbages.

9. The _Crabtree-worm_ can be taken by beating the branches of the crab-apple.

10. _Gentles._ These are bred in putrid meat--liver producing the best--or may generally be obtained from the butchers. They are an excellent bait for most kinds of fish.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE CADDIS FLY.]

11. _Caddis_ is found in ditches, or on the sides of brooks. It is an excellent bait for trout, grayling, roach, dace, or chub.

12. _Flag-worms_ are found among flags in old pits or ponds, and are good bait for grayling, tench, bream, carp, roach, and dace.

13. _Gra.s.shoppers_ are found in sun-burnt gra.s.s, and are good bait for chub, trout, and grayling.

14. _Wasp-grubs_ are to be obtained from wasps' nests, and are a good bait for most fish that will take gentles.[2]

[2] Wasp-grubs will keep better, and be easier to fit on the hook, if they are baked for half-an-hour.

15. _c.o.c.kchafers_ are found humming round the bushes at about dusk on a summer evening, and everywhere, and sometimes in cowdung; are a capital bait for chub, though not for anything else.

16. _White-bread Paste_ is prepared by dipping white bread in water (soaking and squeezing it in the corner of a pocket-handkerchief is the best way), and then working it a little in the palm of the hand. It is a good bait for carp, tench, chub, or roach. Some add a little honey.