Maxims and Hints for an Angler: Embellished with Humorous Engravings, Illustrative of the Miseries of Fishing. To which are Added, Maxims and Hints for a Chess PlayerT.F. Bell, 1863 - 60 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accu advantage adversary afterwards Angler artificial flies attempt back a move bank beaten better chance better player blowing-line boots bridge by-standers catch a fish celebrated player chance of hooking Chess Club Chess Player darting day's fishing difficult ditch expert assistant feeding feel sure first-rate player fish down-stream fish rising fisherman gently raises heavy fish immediately driven instantly whipt interesting localities landing landing net largest fish lose Maxims and Hints May-flies Miseries of Fishing never odds old foot open their game pawns pêche person Probing the bottom queen en prise quietly rival the Weed river rod and line rook skilful friend catch sort sport stream strength tackle take the fly talent Thompson throw trout truly good player wading walk whilst whipping wind windy day won a game won the game worthless rival XVII XXII XXIV XXIX XXVI XXVII
Popular passages
Page 19 - Much valuable time, and many a good fish, may be lost by this antiquated proceeding. Put him into your basket as soon as you can. Every thing depends on the manner in which you commence your acquaintance with him. If you can at first prevail upon him to walk a little way down the stream with you, you will have no difficulty afterwards in persuading him to let you have the pleasure of seeing him at dinner.
Page 4 - You see the ways the fisherman doth take To catch the fish ; what engines doth he make ! Behold how he engageth all his wits ; Also his snares, lines, angles, hooks, and nets ; Yet fish there be, that neither hook nor line, Nor snare, nor net, nor engine can make thine : They must be groped for, and be tickled too, Or they will not be catch'd, whate'er you do.
Page 21 - Do not leave off fishing early in the evening, because your friends are tired. After a bright day, the largest fish are to be caught by whipping between sunset and dark. Even, however, in these precious moments, you will not have good sport, if you continue throwing after you have whipped your fly off. Pay attention to this ; and, if you have any doubt after dusk, you may easily ascertain the point, by drawing the end of the line quickly through your hand, particularly if you do not wear gloves.
Page 7 - If you pass your fly neatly and well three times over a trout, and he refuses it, do not wait any longer for him : you may be sure that he has seen the line of invitation which you have sent over the water to him, and does not intend to come.
Page 12 - XVIII. The learned are much divided in opinion as to the propriety of whipping with two flies or with one. I am humbly of opinion that your chance of hooking fish is much increased by your using two flies ; but I think that, by using only one, you increase your chance of landing the fish.
Page 9 - Remember that, in whipping with the artificial fly, it must have time, when you have drawn it out of the water, to make the whole circuit, and to be at one time straight behind you, before it can be driven out straight before you. If you give it the forward impulse too soon, you will hear a crack. Take this as a hint that your fly is gone to grass.
Page 9 - Bear always in mind that no tackle is strong enough, unless well handled. A good fisherman will easily kill a trout of three pounds with a rod and line which are not strong enough to lift a dead weight of one pound from the floor, and place it on the tahle.
Page 11 - It appears to me that, in whipping with an artificial fly, there are only two cases in which a fish taking the fly will infallibly hook himself without your assistance, viz. 1. When your fly first touches the water at the end of a straight line. 2. When you are drawing out your fly for a new throw. In all other cases it is necessary that, in order to hook him when he has taken the fly, you should do something with your wrist which it is not easy to describe. XVI. If your line should fall loose and...
Page 22 - When you have got hold of a good fish, which is not very tractable, if you are married, gentle reader, think of your wife, who, like the fish, is united to you by very tender ties, which can only end with her death, or her going into weeds. If you are single, the loss of the fish, when you thought the prize your own, may remind you of some more serious disappointment.
Page 16 - ... describing, as the scene of action, the spot which, in truth, you know to be still occupied by the other fish A. Your friend would then fish no more for A, supposing that to be the fish which you have caught ; and whilst he innocently resumes his operations below the bridge, .where he falsely imagines B still to be, A is left quietly for you, if you can catch him.