_Pisc_. My honest Scholer, I will do it, for it is a debt due unto you, by my promise: and because you shall not think your self more engaged to me then indeed you really are, therefore I will tell you freely, I find Mr. _Thomas Barker_ (a Gentleman that has spent much time and money in Angling) deal so judicially and freely in a little book of his of Angling, and especially of making and Angling with a _flye_ for a _Trout_, that I will give you his very directions without much variation, which shal follow.
Let your rod be light, and very gentle, I think the best are of two pieces; the line should not exceed, (especially for three or four links towards the hook) I say, not exceed three or four haires; but if you can attain to Angle with one haire; you will have more rises, and catch more fish. Now you must bee sure not to c.u.mber yourselfe with too long a Line, as most do: and before you begin to angle, cast to have the wind on your back, and the Sun (if it shines) to be before you, and to fish down the streame, and carry the point or tip of the Rod downeward; by which meanes the shadow of yourselfe, and Rod too will be the least offensive to the Fish, for the sight of any shadow amazes the fish, and spoiles your sport, of which you must take a great care.
In the middle of _March_ ("till which time a man should not in honestie catch a _Trout_) or in April, if the weather be dark, or a little windy, or cloudie, the best fishing is with the _Palmer-worm_, of which I last spoke to you; but of these there be divers kinds, or at least of divers colours, these and the _May-fly_ are the ground of all _fly_-Angling, which are to be thus made:
First you must arm your hook, with the line in the inside of it; then take your Scissers and cut so much of a browne _Malards_ feather as in your own reason wil make the wings of it, you having with all regard to the bigness or littleness of your hook, then lay the outmost part of your feather next to your hook, then the point of your feather next the shank of your hook; and having so done, whip it three or four times about the hook with the same Silk, with which your hook was armed, and having made the Silk fast, take the hackel of a _c.o.c.k_ or _Capons_ neck, or a _Plovers_ top, which is usually better; take off the one side of the feather, and then take the hackel, Silk or Crewel, Gold or Silver thred, make these fast at the bent of the hook (that is to say, below your arming), then you must take the hackel, the silver or gold thred, and work it up to the wings, shifting or stil removing your fingers as you turn the Silk about the hook: and still looking at every stop or turne that your gold, or what materials soever you make your Fly of, do lye right and neatly; and if you find they do so, then when you have made the head, make all fast, and then work your hackel up to the head, and make that fast; and then with a needle or pin divide the wing into two, and then with the arming Silk whip it about crosswayes betwixt the wings, and then with your thumb you must turn the point of the feather towards the bent of the hook, and then work three or four times about the shank of the hook and then view the proportion, and if all be neat, and to your liking, fasten.
I confess, no direction can be given to make a man of a dull capacity able to make a flye well; and yet I know, this, with a little practice, wil help an ingenuous Angler in a good degree; but to see a fly made by another, is the best teaching to make it, and then an ingenuous Angler may walk by the River and mark what fly falls on the water that day, and catch one of them, if he see the _Trouts_ leap at a fly of that kind, and having alwaies hooks ready hung with him, and having a bag also, alwaies with him with Bears hair, or the hair of a brown or sad coloured Heifer, hackels of a c.o.c.k or Capon, several coloured Silk and Crewel to make the body of the fly, the feathers of a Drakes head, black or brown sheeps wool, or Hogs wool, or hair, thred of Gold, and of silver; silk of several colours (especially sad coloured to make the head:) and there be also other colour"d feathers both of birds and of peckled fowl. I say, having those with him in a bag, and trying to make a flie, though he miss at first, yet shal he at last hit it better, even to a perfection which none can well teach him; and if he hit to make his flie right, and have the luck to hit also where there is store of _trouts_, and a right wind, he shall catch such store of them, as will encourage him to grow more and more in love with the Art of _flie-making_.
_Viat_. But my loving Master, if any wind will not serve, then I wish I were in _Lapland_, to buy a good wind of one of the honest witches, that sell so many winds, and so cheap.
_Pisc_. Marry Scholer, but I would not be there, nor indeed from under this tree; for look how it begins to rain, and by the clouds (if I mistake not) we shall presently have a smoaking showre; and therefore fit close, this _Sycamore tree_ will shelter us; and I will tell you, as they shall come into my mind, more observations of flie-fishing for a _Trout_.
But first, for the Winde; you are to take notice that of the windes the South winde is said to be best. One observes, That
_When the winde is south, It blows your bait into a fishes mouth_.
Next to that, the _west_ winde is believed to be the best: and having told you that the _East_ winde is the worst, I need not tell you which winde is best in the third degree: And yet (as _Solomon_ observes, that _Hee that considers the winde shall never sow_:) so hee that busies his head too much about them, (if the weather be not made extreme cold by an East winde) shall be a little superst.i.tious: for as it is observed by some, That there is no good horse of a bad colour; so I have observed, that if it be a clowdy day, and not extreme cold, let the winde sit in what corner it will, and do its worst. And yet take this for a Rule, that I would willingly fish on the Lee-sh.o.r.e: and you are to take notice, that the Fish lies, or swimms neerer the bottom in Winter then in Summer, and also neerer the bottom in any cold day.
But I promised to tell you more of the Flie-fishing for a _Trout_, (which I may have time enough to do, for you see it rains _May-utter_).
First for a _May-flie_, you may make his body with greenish coloured crewel, or willow colour; darkning it in most places, with waxed silk, or rib"d with a black hare, or some of them rib"d with silver thred; and such wings for the colour as you see the flie to have at that season; nay at that very day on the water. Or you may make the _Oak-flie_ with an Orange-tawny and black ground, and the brown of a Mallards feather for the wings; and you are to know, that these two are most excellent _flies_, that is, the _May-flie_ and the _Oak-flie_: And let me again tell you, that you keep as far from the water as you can possibly, whether you fish with a flie or worm, and fish down the stream; and when you fish with a flie, if it be possible, let no part of your line touch the water, but your flie only; and be stil moving your fly upon the water, or casting it into the water; you your self, being also alwaies moving down the stream. Mr. _Barker_ commends severall sorts of the palmer flies, not only those rib"d with silver and gold, but others that have their bodies all made of black, or some with red, and a red hackel; you may also make the _hawthorn-flie_ which is all black and not big, but very smal, the smaller the better; or the _oak-fly_, the body of which is Orange colour and black crewel, with a brown wing, or a _fly_ made with a peac.o.c.ks feather, is excellent in a bright day: you must be sure you want not in your _Magazin_ bag, the Peac.o.c.ks feather, and grounds of such wool, and crewel as will make the Gra.s.shopper: and note, that usually, the smallest flies are best; and note also, that, the light flie does usually make most sport in a dark day: and the darkest and least flie in a bright or cleare day; and lastly note, that you are to repaire upon any occasion to your _Magazin_ bag, and upon any occasion vary and make them according to your fancy.
And now I shall tell you, that the fishing with a naturall flie is excellent, and affords much pleasure; they may be found thus, the _May-fly_ usually in and about that month neer to the River side, especially against rain; the _Oak-fly_ on the b.u.t.t or body of an _Oak_ or _Ash_, from the beginning of _May_ to the end of _August_ it is a brownish fly, and easie to be so found, and stands usually with his head downward, that is to say, towards the root of the tree, the small black fly, or _hawthorn_ fly is to be had on any Hawthorn bush, after the leaves be come forth; with these and a short Line (as I shewed to Angle for a _Chub_) you may dap or dop, and also with a _Grashopper_, behind a tree, or in any deep hole, still making it to move on the top of the water, as if it were alive, and still keeping your self out of sight, you shall certainly have sport if there be _Trouts_; yea in a hot day, but especially in the evening of a hot day.
And now, Scholer, my direction for _fly-fishing_ is ended with this showre, for it has done raining, and now look about you, and see how pleasantly that Meadow looks, nay and the earth smels as sweetly too.
Come let me tell you what holy Mr. _Herbert_ saies of such dayes and Flowers as these, and then we will thank G.o.d that we enjoy them, and walk to the River and sit down quietly and try to catch the other brace of _Trouts_.
Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and skie, Sweet dews shal weep thy fall to night, for thou must die.
Sweet Rose, whose hew angry and brave Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye, Thy root is ever in its grave, and thou must die.
Sweet Spring, ful of sweet days & roses, A box where sweets compacted lie; My Musick shewes you have your closes, and all must die.
Only a sweet and vertuous soul, Like seasoned timber never gives, But when the whole world turns to cole, then chiefly lives.
_Viat_. I thank you, good Master, for your good direction for fly-fishing, and for the sweet enjoyment of the pleasant day, which is so far spent without offence to G.o.d or man. And I thank you for the sweet close of your discourse with Mr. _Herberts_ Verses, which I have heard, loved Angling; and I do the rather believe it, because he had a spirit sutable to Anglers, and to those Primitive Christians that you love, and have so much commended.
_Pisc_. Well, my loving Scholer, and I am pleased to know that you are so well pleased with my direction and discourse; and I hope you will be pleased too, if you find a _Trout_ at one of our Angles, which we left in the water to fish for it self; you shall chuse which shall be yours, and it is an even lay, one catches; And let me tell you, this kind of fishing, and laying Night-hooks, are like putting money to use, for they both work for the Owners, when they do nothing but sleep, or eat, or rejoice, as you know we have done this last hour, and fate as quietly and as free from cares under this _Sycamore_, as _Virgils t.i.tyrus_ and his _Melibaeus_ did under their broad _Beech_ tree: No life, my honest Scholer, no life so happy and so pleasant as the Anglers, unless it be the Beggers life in Summer; for then only they take no care, but are as happy as we Anglers.
_Viat_. Indeed Master, and so they be, as is witnessed by the beggers Song, made long since by _Frank Davison_, a good Poet, who was not a Begger, though he were a good Poet.
_Pisc_. Can you sing it, Scholer?
_Viat_. Sit down a little, good Master, and I wil try.
_Bright shines the Sun, play beggers, play, here"s sc.r.a.ps enough to serve to day: What noise of viols is so sweet As when our merry clappers ring?
What mirth doth want when beggers meet?
A beggers life is for a King: Eat, drink and play, sleep when we list, Go where we will so stocks be mist.
Bright shines the Sun, play beggers, &c.
The world is ours and ours alone, For we alone have world at will; We purchase not, all is our own, Both fields and streets we beggers fill: Play beggers play, play beggers play, here"s sc.r.a.ps enough to serve to day.
A hundred herds of black and white Upon our Gowns securely feed, And yet if any dare us bite, He dies therefore as sure as Creed: Thus beggers Lord it as they please, And only beggers live at ease: Bright shines the Sun, play beggers play, here"s sc.r.a.ps enough to serve to day_.
_Pisc_. I thank you good Scholer, this Song was well humor"d by the maker, and well remembred and sung by you; and I pray forget not the Ketch which you promised to make against night, for our Country man honest _Coridon_ will expect your Ketch and my Song, which I must be forc"d to patch up, for it is so long since I learnt it, that I have forgot a part of it. But come, lets stretch our legs a little in a gentle walk to the River, and try what interest our Angles wil pay us for lending them so long to be used by the _Trouts_.
_Viat_. Oh me, look you Master, a fish, a fish.
_Pisc_. I marry Sir. that was a good fish indeed; if I had had the luck to have taken up that Rod, "tis twenty to one he should not have broke my line by running to the Rods end, as you suffered him; I would have held him, unless he had been fellow to the great _Trout_ that is neer an ell long, which had his picture drawne, and now to be seen at mine Hoste _Rickabies_ at the _George_ in _Ware_; and it may be, by giving that _Trout_ the Rod, that is, by casting it to him into the water, I might have caught him at the long run, for so I use alwaies to do when I meet with an over-grown fish, and you will learn to do so hereafter; for I tell you, Scholer, fishing is an Art, or at least, it is an Art to catch fish.
_Viat_. But, Master, will this _Trout_ die, for it is like he has the hook in his belly?
_Pisc_. I wil tel you, Scholer, that unless the hook be fast in his very Gorge, he wil live, and a little time with the help of the water, wil rust the hook, & it wil in time wear away as the gravel does in the horse hoof, which only leaves a false quarter.
And now Scholer, lets go to my Rod. Look you Scholer, I have a fish too, but it proves a logger-headed _Chub_; and this is not much a miss, for this wil pleasure some poor body, as we go to our lodging to meet our brother _Peter_ and honest _Coridon_--Come, now bait your hook again, and lay it into the water, for it rains again, and we wil ev"n retire to the _Sycamore_ tree, and there I wil give you more directions concerning fishing; for I would fain make you an Artist.
_Viat_. Yes, good Master, I pray let it be so.
CHAP. V.
_Pisc_. Wel, Scholer, now we are sate downe and are at ease, I shall tel you a little more of _Trout_ fishing before I speak of the _Salmon_ (which I purpose shall be next) and then of the _Pike_ or _Luce_. You are to know, there is night as well as day-fishing for a _Trout_, and that then the best are out of their holds; and the manner of taking them is on the top of the water with a great _Lob_ or _Garden worm_, or rather two; which you are to fish for in a place where the water runs somewhat quietly (for in a stream it wil not be so well discerned.) I say, in a quiet or dead place neer to some swift, there draw your bait over the top of the water to and fro, and if there be a good _Trout_ in the hole, he wil take it, especially if the night be dark; for then he lies boldly neer the top of the water, watching the motion of any _Frog_ or _Water-mouse_, or _Rat_ betwixt him and the skie, which he hunts for if he sees the water but wrinkle or move in one of these dead holes, where the great _Trouts_ usually lye neer to their hold.
And you must fish for him with a strong line, and not a little hook, and let him have time to gorge your hook, for he does not usually forsake it, as he oft will in the day-fishing: and if the night be not dark, then fish so with an _Artificial fly_ of a light colour; nay he will sometimes rise at a dead Mouse or a piece of cloth, or any thing that seemes to swim cross the water, or to be in motion: this is a choice way, but I have not oft used it because it is void of the pleasures that such dayes as these that we now injoy, afford an _Angler_.
And you are to know, that in _Hamp-shire_, (which I think exceeds all _England_ for pleasant Brooks, and store of _Trouts_) they use to catch _Trouts_ in the night by the light of a Torch or straw, which when they have discovered, they strike with a _Trout_ spear; this kind of way they catch many, but I would not believe it till I was an eye-witness of it, nor like it now I have seen it.
_Viat_. But Master, do not _Trouts_ see us in the night?
_Pisc_. Yes, and hear, and smel too, both then and in the day time, for _Gesner_ observes, the _Otter_ smels a fish forty furlong off him in the water; and that it may be true, is affirmed by Sir _Francis Bacon_ (in the eighth Century of his Natural History) who there proves, that waters may be the _Medium_ of sounds, by demonstrating it thus, _That if you knock two stones together very deep under the water, those that stand on a bank neer to that place may hear the noise without any diminution of it by the water_. He also offers the like experiment concerning the letting an _Anchor_ fall by a very long Cable or rope on a Rock, or the sand within the Sea: and this being so wel observed and demonstrated, as it is by that learned man, has made me to believe that _Eeles_ unbed themselves, and stir at the noise of the Thunder, and not only as some think, by the motion or the stirring of the earth, which is occasioned by that Thunder.
And this reason of Sir _Francis Bacons_ [Exper. 792] has made me crave pardon of one that I laught at, for affirming that he knew _Carps_ come to a certain place in a Pond to be fed at the ringing of a Bel; and it shall be a rule for me to make as little noise as I can when I am a fishing, until Sir _Francis Bacon_ be confuted, which I shal give any man leave to do, and so leave off this Philosophical discourse for a discourse of fishing.
Of which my next shall be to tell you, it is certain, that certain fields neer _Lemster_, a Town in _Herefordshire_, are observed, that they make the Sheep that graze upon them more fat then the next, and also to bear finer Wool; that is to say, that that year in which they feed in such a particular pasture, they shall yeeld finer wool then the yeer before they came to feed in it, and courser again if they shall return to their former pasture, and again return to a finer wool being fed in the fine wool ground. Which I tell you, that you may the better believe that I am certain, If I catch a _Trout_ in one Meadow, he shall be white and _faint_ and very like to be _lowsie_; and as certainly if I catch a _Trout_ in the next Meadow, he shal be strong, and _red_, and _l.u.s.ty_, and much better meat: Trust me (Scholer) I have caught many a _Trout_ in a particular Meadow, that the very shape and inamelled colour of him, has joyed me to look upon him, and I have with _Solomon_ concluded, _Every thing is beautifull in his season_.
It is now time to tell you next, (according to promise) some observations of the _Salmon_; But first, I wil tel you there is a fish, called by some an _Umber_, and by some a _Greyling_, a choice fish, esteemed by many to be equally good with the _Trout_: it is a fish that is usually about eighteen inches long, he lives in such streams as the _Trout_ does; and is indeed taken with the same bait as a _Trout_ is, for he will bite both at the _Minnow_, the _Worm_, and the _Fly_, both _Natural_ and _Artificial_: of this fish there be many in _Trent_, and in the River that runs by _Salisbury_, and in some other lesser Brooks; but he is not so general a fish as the _Trout_, nor to me either so good to eat, or so pleasant to fish for as the _Trout_ is; of which two fishes I will now take my leave, and come to my promised Observations of the _Salmon_, and a little advice for the catching him.
CHAP. VI.
The _Salmon_ is ever bred in the fresh Rivers (and in most Rivers about the month of _August_) and never grows big but in the Sea; and there to an incredible bigness in a very short time; to which place they covet to swim, by the instinct of nature, about a set time: but if they be stopp"d by _Mills, Floud-gates_ or _Weirs_, or be by accident lost in the fresh water, when the others go (which is usually by flocks or sholes) then they thrive not.