A Book on Angling; Being a Complete Treatise on the Art of Angling in Every Branch (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 edition. Excerpt: ...for roach, using a fine quill float, and throwing in a few gentles from time to time; but I never could abide fishing for trout with a float--it is an insult to the prince of bold-biting fish--still it is practised in the quiet eddies and holes, with great effect, too, and Mr. Stoddart, who is a great authority upon worm-fishing, as I have said, recommends the use of a float on small lakes and pools. With respect to what methods of fishing are fair and what not, the most satisfactory and safe plan to go on would appear to be guided by the custom; if a person confines himself to the custom of the place he cannot be far wrong. But if he is told that he is to confine himself to any special kind of fishing--for instance, if he has a day's fishing granted to him on condition that it is fair flyfishing--and he 'just slips on a worm because they don't rise very well, ' then he is not only a poacher but an unmitigated ' cad, ' who ought to be kicked off the premises. 232 CREEPER-FISHING. ON CRAB OR CREEPER-FISHING. Here, again, is a method of bait-fishing very widely indulged in, which is really very deadly in skilful hands, and which might be held poaching if any bait-fishing is, nevertheless it is not. The crab or creeper is the larva of the stone fly, and may be found running about amongst the stones on the wet strands of rivers where the stone fly is plentiful, during the month of April and on through much of May, according to the season, a week or two sooner or later. In appearance it resembles strongly a black insect which we used to call in my early youth the ' Devil's coach horses, ' an insect which perhaps will be recognised by its habit of erecting its tail, or the latter half of its body, in the air, when, disturbed I believe. Its proper name is