The Art of
ANGLING.
WHEREIN
Are discovered many rare Secrets,
very necessary to be knowne
by all that delight in
that Recreation.
LONDON,
Printed in the Yeare 1653.
ONLY ONE HUNDRED COPIES PRINTED.
Reprinted by Inchbold and Gawtress, Leeds.
1817.
The Art of Angling.
eader: I will complement, and put a case to you. I met with a man,and upon our Discourse he fell out with me: this man having a goodweapon, having neither wit, stomack, nor skill; I say this man maycome home by Totnam-high-Cross, and cause the Clerk to tole hisknell: It is the very like case with the Gentleman Angler that goethto the River for his pleasure: this Angler hath neither judgment,knowledge, nor experience; he may come home light laden at hispleasure.
A man that goeth to the River for his pleasure, must understand, whenhe cometh there, to set forth his Tackles. The first thing he must do,is to observe the Sun, the Wind, the Moon, the Starres, and the Wanesof the Air; to set forth his Tackles according to the times andseasons; to goe for his pleasure, and some profit.
As for example, the Sun proves cloudy; then must he set forth eitherhis ground Bait or Tackles, and of the brightest of his Flies. If theSun prove bright, then must he put on some of the darkest of hisflies. Thus must you goe to work with your Flies, light for darkness,and dark for lightness, with the wind in the South, then that blowsthe Flie in the Trouts mouth. Though I set down the wind being in theSouth, if the weather be warm, I am indifferent where the windstandeth, either with ground Bait or Menow, so that I can cast my Baitinto the River. The very same observations is for night, as for day:For if the Moon prove cleer, or if the Stars glitter in the skie,there is as ill Angling that night, as if it were at high noon in themidst of Summer, when the Sun shineth at the brightest, wherein thereis no hopes of pleasure.
I will begin to Angle for the Trout, with the ground Baits with thisquality.[4]
The first thing you must gaine, must be a neat taper Rod, lightbefore, with a tender hazell top, which is very gentle. If you desireto attain my way of Angling, (for I have Angled these forty years)with a single haire of five lengths, one tied to another for thebottom of my Line, and a Line of three haired links for the uppermostpart; and so you may kill the greatest Trout that swims, withSea-room.
He that Angles with a Line made of three haired links at the bottom,and more at the top, may kill Fish: but he that Angles with one hairshall kill five Trouts to the others one; for the Trout is very quicksighted; therefore the best way for night or day, is to keep out ofthe sight. You must Angle alwayes with the point of your Rod downe thestream; for a Fish hath not the quickness of sight so perfect up thestream, as opposite against him, observing seasonable times; as forexample, we begin to Angle in March; If it prove cloudie, y