THE Anglers Delight.
Of the Pike, And how to Take Him several wayes.
THis Pike is the King and Commander of all Fresh-Water Fish; therefore I begin with him first: And he is Ravenous, that I my self, at Boately, near Oxford, with my Trole, took a great Over-grown Pike, that was within an Inch of a Yard-long; and when he came to be opened, he had an other large one, of above a Quarter of a Yard-long, in his Belly: And I will, upon occasion, bring evidence, that the [Page 2] Pike, which was taken out of the others Belly, had a small Bird that is used to lodge in the Reeds, in the Pouch of it: But no more of this. Now for my promise, which was, How to catch this
His feeding is generally of Roach, Dace, Gudgeons, or Froggs; but above all, he delighteth most in Fair Gudgeons: and where there is not store of small Fish, he feeds of a Weed called, Pike-rell-Weed.
Now your first way of Taking a Pike, that I shall teach, is, By a frixed Bait, which is done (if in a standing Water) by having a Line of about twenty Yards long, made fast to a stick, stuck in the ground; and having baited your Hook with a Live Gudgeon, Roach, or Dace, throw it as far as conveniently you can, or in the like-liest place you see for a Pike, leaving two Yards, or there-abouts, loose upon the ground by your [Page 3] Peg, that you may see when your Line is run out strait; at which time be assured, that you have got a Pike. You may make use of as many Lines as you please, the more you Lay out, the like-lier you are to have the more Sport.
But if you would take a Pike in a River, or any other Moving Water, I will shew you the best way ever invented, which you may perceive by the Figure.
Take a piece of Cork, about little more than a quarter of an Inch thick, cut it round, as you see in the Figure, and then hollow it round the sides, to [Page 4] lap or wind your Line in, which must be about twelve Yards; tye it fast round the Cork, and tye a Hook to it, baited with a live Bait, as you see in the Figure: And when you have left so much of the Line, at the end the Fish hung to, as you think will reach half depth of the Water you intend to fish in, catch your Line in the Cleft of the Stick, which must be put through the Cork, as you see the Figure; and this will boy up your Bait, at any distance you place it.
This being done, throw your Cork, Line, and Fish, all into the middle of the Water you intend to fish; if in a River, the Stream will carry it down; in a Mere or Pond, the Wind will give it Motion: So that, if you have but two or three of these, you need not fear Sport enough.
Now, when the Pike bites, his snatching so eagerly, as they generally do, pulls your Line out of the Cleft in the Stick, and gives him the whole length of the Line, to pouch your Bait with: This being done, he will run up and down a little, but will presently be tyred; but let him go whither he [Page 5] will, you need not fear; For, your Boy will continually be above Water.
Now to take him, you must have a strong piece of three twist Pack-thred, of thirty Yards long, with a Plummet at the end, of a quarter of a Pound weight; which cast beyond the Line, between your Boy and the Pike, and let it sink; and it will bring you both Boy and Pike: So that, try all the wayes that are, you will find none so pleasant or profitable as this, to take a Pike.
Many use to Troule for a Pike; but that is so easie, that I shall not spend time in giving Directions: For, it will be far easier learnt, by once going with any Person that understands it, in ones day time, than is possible to be Taught by a Printed Direction. So much for the Taking of him. Now for the Dressing of him.
All Pikes, that are not half a Yard long, are fitter to be Fryed or Boyled, than any other way; but for a Pike to exceed that Length, either little or more, Roast him in this manner:
[Page 6] First, Open your Pike at the Gills, and if need be, give a little cutt towards his Belly; out of these take his Guts, but keep his Liver, which you are to shred very small with Tyme, Sweet-Marjerome, and a little Winter-Savory; to these put some Pickled Oysters, and some Anchovies, two or three of both, the last whole (for the Anchovies will melt, and the Oysters should not); to these add a Pound of Sweet-Butter, which you are to mix with the Herbs that are shred; and let them all be well Salted: those being mixed with a Blade or two of Mace, must be put into the Pike's Belly, and then his Belly sowed up so close, that, if possible, it may keep all the Butter in his Belly. Take not off his Scales: Then you are to thrust the Spit through his Mouth, out at the Tayle: And then with five or six split Stixs, or very thin Lathes, with a good quantity of Filliting. These Lathes are to be tyed round about the Pikes Belly, from his Head to his Tayle, and the Tape tyed something thick to prevent his breaking or falling from off the Spit. Let him be Roasted very leasurely, and [Page] [Page] [Page 7] often Basted with Claret VVine, and Anchovies, and Butter, mixt together; and also, with what Moysture falls from him into the Pan.
VVhen you have Roasted him sufficiently, you are to hold under him, (when you unwind, or cutt the Tape that tyes him) such a Dish as you intend to eat him out of, and let him fall into it, with the Sauce which is Roasted in his Belly; and by this means the Pike will be kept unbroken, and compleat. Then, to the Sauce which was within, and also in the Pan, you are to add a fit Quantity of good Butter, and to squeeze the Juyce of three or four Oranges: Lastly, You may either put into the Pike, with the Oysters, two Cloves of Garlick, and take it whole out, when the Pike is cutt off the Spit; or, to give the Sauce a Hogo, let the Dish (into which you let the Pike fall) be rubbed with it. The using, or not using of this Garlick, is left to your Discretion.
[Page 8] So much of the Taking of a Pike, and the Best way of Dressing of him.
I shall now come to the way of Fishing for, and Dressing of a TROUT.
Of the Trout. The Nature of His Breeding, and the Place of His Haunts; and How to take Him either with Worm, Minnow, or Fly.
HE is an Excellent Fish, and highly admired by all People, in all Nations. He hath some-thing of the Nature of Venison, being so like to a Buck, that he comes-in, and goes out of Season, even as the Stag and Buck do.
[Page 9] He may claym Place of all Fresh-Water Fish, for Precedency, and Daintiness of Tast; for, the most Curious Palats, when he hath been in Season, have admired him.
He is at his Perfection in May, and doth Decline, as before, with the Buck.
He Spawn's generally about October, or November.
His Haunts are in gravelly clear Rivers, in the most Shady Places. He delights much near Wires, and Fludgates, and any Falls of Waters.
His Baits are, usually, that he is Caught with, a Worm, or a Minnow, or else with a Flye, viz. either Natural, or Artificial Flye.
First of Worms; there are many, as Earth-VVorms; others that are bred of Plants, as the Dug'd-VVorme; others of Excrements, or in the Bodies of Creatures, as the Maggot, or Gentle, &c. But of all these, the Dew, or Lob-Worm, and the Brandling, are the best for a Trout.
[Page 10] And if you would catch so large a Trout as this,
take the Lob-Worme. And your best way is to put them to some Mosse, till they are poor, by cleansing themselves; and then, by giving them the Yolk of an Egg, they will become lively, and fit for use: But if you are straitned for VVorms, squeeze some VVall-nut Tree-Leaves in water, which poured upon the ground, will make them rise out of hand.
Now to Bait your Hook neatly, that it may Trole or Runn upon the Ground, without Tangling, or Catching against any Sticks, Gravel, or Weeds, observe:
If you have a big Lob-Worme, put your Hook into it, some-what above the middle, and out again, a little below the middle; having so done, draw [Page 11] your Worme above the Arming of your Hook. But note, That at the entring of your Hook, it must not be at the Head-end of the Worme; because the Point of your Hook may come out towards the Head-end: and having drawn him above the Arming of your Hook, then put the Point of your Hook again into the very Head of the Worme, till it come near the place where the Point of the Hook first came out, and then draw back that part of the Worme that was above the Shank, or Arming of the Hook, and so Fish with it.
But if you mean to Fish with two Worms, which you may do: If one be not big enough, then put the second Worme, before you turn back the Hook's head of the first Worme. So a little trying will make you Expert; and you may Fish without danger of Stopping or Catching upon any gravel, or the like.
For the Minnows.
They may be had easily in March or April; for then they appear in the [Page 12] River, where you may take them at your Pleasure: Of which, for to take a Trout, the middle size are best, and must be so put upon your Hook, that it must turn round, when it is drawn against the Stream; and for the nimbler turning thereof, put it upon a big sized Hook, which put in, at his Mouth, and out at his Gill; then your Hook being drawn two or three Inches beyond his Gill, put it again into his Mouth, and the Point and Beard out at his Tayle; and then tye the Hook, and his Tayle very neatly, with a white Thred or Silk, which will make it the apter to turn quick in the Water: That being done, pull back that part of your Line, which was slack, when you put your hook into the Minnow, the second time: So that, it shall fasten the Head; and the Body of the Minnow shall be almost straight on your Hook. Then try how it will turn, by drawing it cross the Water, or against the Stream; and so turn the Tayle to your right or left hand, till it turns to please you; if not, you're not likely to catch any thing; if you cannot get a Minnow, a Loach or a Stickle-bag, will serve neer as [Page] [Page] [Page 13] well: If you can get an Artificial Minnow at the Shops, you had best take one with you, lest you fail elsewhere.
As for Flyes.
I think either for Trout, or any other Fish, that will rise at Flyes, those that they rise-at most, that Season when you Fish for them, are the best to take them with; and there are so many, that I cannot (for fear of making my little Piece swell beyond its Price) stand to name them.
Now, as to the Artificial Flyes, take only this Rule with you; that is, To provide all Colours of Silk, and Feathers, and such things as are convenient for the making of them: and never go about to make one, Artificially, without a Natural one before you, what-ever it is you would imitate: But you had better go, or send, to the Three Fishes, over-against the little North-Door of St. Pauls, in London, where you may have them Better and Cheaper, than you can make them: And so much of the Trout.
Of the Barbel. His Haunts, Baits, and the Manner of Taking him.
THey are a Fish, that love to keep one another Company dearly, and flock together much: They are at worst in April, at which time they Spawne; But are not long before they come in Season again.
He loves (all the Summer) the Shallow, and Sharp Streams, and lies lurking under Weeds, and feeds most on Gravel, against a rising Ground; For, he Roots with his Nose like a Hog, and Nests himself in the Gravel.
He loves also such places as London-Bridge, or any deep Place, where the Fierceness of the Water, stirs the Gravel; where he will take hold of Mosse, or Weeds, that the Water, though never so fierce, is not able to stir him.
He is mighty Curious in his Baits, [Page 15] and if they be not Sweet and Clean, he will not touch them; therefore you must have your Wormes well scoured with Mosse, and he will bite at a well-scoured Lob-worme, as boldly, as at any Bait whatsoever: But your best way will be, to Bait the Place where you intend to Fish for them, with some Lob-Wormes, cutt to pieces, a night or two before you go to Fish.
You cannot Bait too much; nor well Fish too early, or late, for him.
Gentiles are also a good Bait for him; but then they must not be scoured. Many use Cheese, which is also a good Bait.
He is a very fine Fish, to look on; but not so good as he seems to be.
So much of the Barbel.
Of the Cheven, or Chub. His Haunts, Baits, and Manner of Taking him; as also, The best way of Dressing him.
THE Chubs or Chevens, (in hot Weather) lye playing together, under the Shade of Willows, or Weeds; and when the Sun shines not, then generally they lye where the Water runs neither fast nor slow, under a Bank, where they have Covert enough, or else in the Deep, in the midst of Rivers.
They delight in Grass-Hoppers, Snails, Paste, or Cheese, of which I shall give you an account, when you come to my Method of Hackney Fish. I shall only here give you Directions, how you [Page] [Page] [Page 17] may, the best way, Dresse this Chub, or Cheven, viz.
First, scale him, and then wash him clean, and take out his Guts; and to that end, make the Hole as little, and as near to his Gills as you can possibly: and especially make clean his Throat from the Grasse, and VVeeds, that are usually in it (for else if that be not clean, it will make him tast mighty Sowr); having so done, put some Sweet Herbs into his Belly, and then tye him with two or three Splinters to a Spit, and Roast him, basted often with Vinegar; or rather Verjuce and Butter, with good store of Salt mixed with it; And so much of the Chub, or Cheven.
Of the Carp. His Haunts, Baits, and Way to Fish for him, and to Dresse him.
NOw if you have a mind to Catch this Carp, that is so Cunning, and Difficult to be Caught;
First, You must expect to have your Patience sufficiently tyred, if you Fish for a River-Carp; and like-wise in some Ponds too: If you intend to do any good with him, you must be at him either early or late; For, they will not [Page 19] bite in the middle of the day. You must (if you fish in a Pond for a Carp) first, throw in Blood and Grains, or the like, to bring them to the place where you would Fish; and then some of the same Bait which you intend to Angle with.
The Carp bites either at Worms or Paste.
The blew-Marsh or Medow-Worm, is best for him. When he is in the Humour, he will some-times bite at a large Gentle: And for Pastes, there are more sorts, than there are sorts of Fishes; but sweet-Pastes are best, that are made either with Sugar or Honey: Which (that you may the better beguile him, he being so cunning) should be thrown where you intend to Fish, an hour or two before you undertake your skill with your Angle-Rod: And your best Bait is made of the Flesh of a Rabbet, Kitling, cutt small; and Bean-Flower: and if that may not be gotten, other Flower; mix them together, and put thereto either Honey, or Sugar; and beat them together in a Mortar, sometime working them in your Hands, [Page 20] being very clean, and make it into a Ball or two, as you think fittest for your use.
If you Fish for a Carp with Gentles, put upon your Hook a small piece of Scarlet about this bigness
, it being soaked in Oyle of Peter, or Rock-Oyle, and you are like-lier to Kill this cunning Fish this way, than by any other: But still, as you are Fishing, Chew a little Bread in your Mouth, and cast it into the Place where you fish.
To Dresse a Carp.
If you can take him alive, scove him, and rub him clean with VVater and Salt: But scale him not then. Open him, and put him, with his Blood, and Liver (which you must save when you open him) into a small Pot or Kettle. Then take Sweet-Marjerome, Tyme, and Parsley, of each half a handful; A Sprig of Rose-Mary, and another of Savory; bind them in two or three small bundles, and put them to your Carp, with four or five whole Onions, twenty Pickled Oysters, and three Anchovies; Then put upon the Carp as [Page 21] much Claret as will cover him; and season your Claret well with Salt, Cloves, and Mace, and the Rinds of Oranges and Lemmons. Cover your Pot, and set it on a quick Fire, till it be sufficiently boyled: then take out the Carp, and lay it with the Broth into the Dish, and pour upon it a quarter of a Pound of Fresh Butter, melted, and beaten with half a dozen Spoonfuls of Broth, the Yolkes of two or three Eggs, and some of the Herbs shred. Garnish your Dish with Lemmons, and so Serve it up.
So much of the Carp.
Of the Bream, And how to Take him.
TO take this Fish, called the Bream,
observe, That Breams do most of all love Ponds, and Meres; but the chiefest way to Take them, is; first, Get as big a Red-Worm as you can find without a knot: Get a pint of them, or more, in an Evening, in a Garden, after a Showr of Rain; and put them, with clean Moss, well washed, pick'd, & the Water squeezed out of the Mosse, as dry as you can, into an Earthen-Pot; and change the Mosse for three or four dayes, for three [Page] [Page] [Page 23] weeks, or a month together; and then your Baits will be in a good condition.
Having your Baits ready, get your Tackling in this manner; Take three long Angling-Rods, and as many, and more Silk-Lines, and as many large Goose-, or rather Swan-Quill-Floats; Then take a piece of Lead made thus
and fasten them to the lower end of your Lines: Then fasten your Link-Hook also to the Lead; and to the end of your Line: Let there be about a foot, or ten inches, between the Lead and the Hook, (but be sure the Lead be heavy enough to sink the Float or Quills under-water, and not the Quill to bear up the Lead); and the Link, next your Hook, must be smaller than the rest of your Line; if you dare venture for fear of a Pike, or Pearch.
Now, the Worm being well baited, it will crawle up and down, as far as the Lead will give it leave; which much enticeth the Fish to bite without Suspition.
Your Float must be (part of it) an Inch above the Water: Then where you think there is Fish, Angle: But first note, That you must bait your [Page 24] Ground at Night, and Fish about four in the Morning; and without doubt, you will not fail of Sport enough.
So much for Bream-Fishing.
Of the Tench, And how to Fish for Him.
A Tench is the Doctor, as I may say, to all other Fishes; and delighteth more in Ponds, and Pits, than in Rivers. And if you will Catch this Tench,
be sure, first, where-ever you Angle, to throw in some sweet Ground-bait: and know, that his Biting-time is about nine in the Morning: But you may Fish for him from seven till eleven, and probably have good Sport, if there be store in the Place where you Fish; and if you follow these Directions following, viz. [Page 26] He will bite at Paste made of Brown-Bread, and Honey, or at a Marsh-Worm.
He delights much in any Paste, wherewith Tar is mixed.
He will bite also at a smaller Worm, with his Head nipped off; and at a Cod-VVorm, put on the Hook before.
He onely bites in the three hottest Months in the year; For, in the other nine, he stirs not at all.
VVhatsoever Bait you fish for him with, be sure you dip it in Tar; and be chewing still some of the Crum of a White-Loafe; and be often a casting of it into the Water where you Fish, round about your Float; and if they once begin to bite, you will catch them as fast as you can Lay-in:
And so much of the Tench.
Of the Pearch. And how to Take Him.
HE delights most in deep places, and in Holes by little Streams, where the small Fish come: And where you must Angle, if you will Catch Pearch;
He is a very bold biting Fish; and if you light on a Hole, where there be never so many, you may take them all at one Standing.
His Baits are, a Worm, a Minnow, or a little Frog; of which you may find many in Hay-time; and the best Worm is a Brandling, which you will find in most Dung-hills; but they must be well [Page 28] scoured in Mosse, or Fennel; or a Worm that lies under a Cow-Turd, with a blewish-head.
If you Fish for him with a Minnow-bait, as I directed you to bait for a Trout: Observe to keep your Minnow, fishing for a Pearch, at mid-water, by the help of a Cork; But be sure, what-ever you Fish with, give a Pearch time enough in biting; for he will not leave you.
And this is sufficient for Mr. Pearch; For, every Boy can Catch him, he is so Bold.
Of Eeles, And how to Take them; their Haunts, &c. and how to Dresse them.
AN Eele is Caught by more Baits than any other Fish; For, they are so greedy, that they will bite at powder'd-Beef; and be taken with a Lob-Worm, or a Garden-Worm; with a Minnow, or Gut of a Hen, Chicken, or the Guts of any Fish: But the Eele may be (especially) taken with a very little Lamprey; but some call it a Pride: and may (in the hot Months) be found in the River Thames.
Now an Eele never (except it be by chance) stirs in the day-time; and therefore, are usually Caught in the night, by laying a Line, with a many Hooks to it, cross a River or Pond; baited with some of the afore-said Baits: But these are Things so common, that it is not worth while to write [Page 30] of. But there is a very pretty way to take them, which is called Snigling, which is thus; Observe your time (which must be in a hot Summers-day) when the Water is lowest, you may take a strong small hook, tyed to a small strong Line, about a yard long: And then (because that the Eeles hide themselves under Board-Planks, about Floud-gates, or Wires, or Mills, or in Holes in the River-Banks,) you may put into one of these Holes, or between any Boards about a Mill, or under any great Stone, or Plank, or any Place where you think an Eele may hide, or shelter her self) there (by the help of a short Stick) put-in your Bait; but leasurely, and as far as you can conveniently; And if there be an Eel there, he will certainly gorge up your Bait; and you need not doubt to have him, if you pull him not out too soon, but by degrees: And see, here he comes.
How to Dresse this Eele.
First, Wash him in Water and Salt, and then pull off his skin, below his Rent, or Navel, and not much farther: Having done that, take out his Guts as clean as you can; but wash him not. Then give him three or four Scotches with a Knife; and put into his Belly, & into these Scotches, Sweet-Herbs, and Anchovies, and a little grated Nut meg; and your Herbs, and Anchovies must also be cutt very small, and mixed with good Butter and Salt. Having done this, then pull his skin over all but his Head, which you must cutt off. By the reason you may tye the skin over the end where his Head grew, it must needs keep all his Moysture within his Skin.
Then tye him to a Spit, with Tape or Pack-thred, and Roast him leasurely; and baste him with Water and Salt, till his skin breaks: And then with Butter, having Roasted him enough, let what was put into his Belly, and what he dropt, be his Sawce: And so far of Eeles.