The Carp is subtle, and full of Policy, will never bite in Cold Weather, but in Hot you cannot be too Early, or too Late. In March, he seldome refuseth the Red-Worme, in June the Cadice, and the three next Months the Grass-hopper: Pastes that are sweet, of which I have spoken before, are very delightfull to Carps: And especially; if you Bait your ground two or three dayes before you angle, with Pellets of course Paste, Chickens-guts, Garbage, &c. Gentles anointed, and a Piece of Scarlet dipt in Honey, put them on the Hook, is an approved way.
The Dace, Dare, Rudd, and Roach, being much of a kind, and feeding, I shall put together, and are easily taken with small Worms, Bobs, Cadbaits, Flies, sheeps-Blood, all sorts of Worms, bred on Trees or Herbs, Paste, Wasps, Gnats, Lipberries, &c. The Heads of the Wasps, being dipt in Blood, is good for Dace, and Dare; as is likewise the Ant-flie.
The Eel, takes great Red-worms, Beef, Wasps, Guts of Fowl, or Fish, Menow, small Roaches are good Bait for Night Hooks; the Hooks being in the Mouth of the Fish. Now because this is very delightfull to most, I shall prescribe three wayes of taking them, as are most full of Pleasure. The first way is called, Sniggling, or Broggling for Eels, thus: Take a strong Line and Hook, baited with a Lob, or Garden-Worm, and observing where Eels lurk in the day time, with a stick forked at the Top, gently put your Bait into the Hole, and if there be any Eels there, you will not fail of a Bite, of as large Eels as can be had, but pull not too hard lest you spoyl all. The second is called Bobbing, which is thus done: Take some large well scowred Lobs, and with a Needle, run some strong twisted Silk through them, from end to end, so many as are enough to wrap about a Board near a dozen times; tye them fast with the two ends of the Silk to hang in so many Hanks; then fasten all to a strong Cord, and a handfull above the Worms fasten a Plumb of three quarters of a pound, and your Cord to a strong Pole, and in muddy Waters, you may Fish, and find the Eels tug lustily, and when you think they have swallowed them, draw up your Line, and a-shore with them. Lastly, the Eel-Spear made with four Teeth, jagged on both sides, stricken into the Mud, on the bottom of a River, and if you chance to strike where they lye, you infallibly take.
There is likewise an assured way of taking Eels, approved to excel any other, thus done: Take some Bottles of Hay, mixt with green Osiers, or Willows, Bait them with Sheeps Guts, or other Beasts Garbage, sink them down in the middle, to the bottom of your Pond, or by the Bank-sides, having fastned a Cord to the Bottles, that you may twitch them up at your pleasure, and all the best Eels will resort to them, and you may take abundance.
The Flounder, Shad, Thwait, Suant, and Mullet, are taken with Red-Worms of all sorts, Wasps, and Gentles.
The Grayling is next; In Angling for which, you must head your Hook upon the shank, with a very slender and narrow plate of Lead, that the Bait (a large Grass-hopper) may the more easily come over it; and at the point put a Cadbait, and keep the Bait in continual motion; not forgetting to pull off the Grass-hoppers Wings.
The Gudgeon, takes the smallest Red-Worm, Wasps, Gentles, and Cadbaits. When you Fish for him, stir up the Sand or Gravel with a Pole, which will make them gather thither, and bite more eagerly.
The Guiniad, I shall remit speaking to, only mentioning it in course, being no where found, but in a place called, Pemble-Mere, in which place they abound, as the River Dee does with Salmon.
The Pope, or Ruff, is excellent for a young Angler, bites greedily, and quantities may be taken, by Baiting the Ground with Earth, and your Hook with small Red Worms.
The Pike, loveth all sorts of Baits (unless the Fly) Gudgeon, Dace, Roaches and Loaches; and young Frogs in Summer time, of which the yellowest is best.