12. Flounder, Shad, and Mullet, love red worms of all sorts, wasps, and gentles.
As for the Minnow, Loach, Bull-head, or
being usually children’s recreation, I once purposed to have omitted them wholly, but considering they often are baits for better fish, as Trout, Pike, Eel, &c. Neither could this discourse be general, if they were omitted; and though I should wave mentioning them, yet I cannot forget them, who have so often vexed me with their unwelcome eagerness; for the
will have a part in the play, if you come where he is; which is almost every where, you need not seek him: I find him much oftener than I desire, it is only in deep still places which he least frequents, and is not over curious in his baits; any thing will serve that he can swallow, and he will strain hard for what he cannot gorge: but chiefly likes small red worms, cad-bait, worms bred on trees, and wasps.
The Loach and Bull-head are much of the same diet; but their principal bait is small red worms.
Having spoken before of pastes, I shall now shew how you may make the same; and though there be as many kinds as men have fancies, yet I esteem these best.
1. Take the tenderest part of the leg of a young rabbit, virgin wax, and sheep’s-suet; beat them in a mortar till they be perfectly incorporated, then with a little clarified honey, temper them before the fire into a paste.