For the _Minnow_ or _Penke_, he is easily found and caught in April, for then hee appears in the Rivers: but Nature hath taught him to shelter and hide himself in the Winter in ditches that be neer to the River, and there both to hide and keep himself warm in the weeds, which rot not so soon as in a running River in which place if hee were in Winter, the distempered Floods that are usually in that season, would suffer him to have no rest, but carry him headlong to Mils and Weires to his confusion. And of these _Minnows_, first you are to know, that the biggest size is not the best; and next, that the middle size and the whitest are the best: and then you are to know, that I cannot well teach in words, but must shew you how to put it on your hook, that it may turn the better: And you are also to know, that it is impossible it should turn too quick: And you are yet to know, that in case you want a _Minnow_, then a small _Loch_, or a _Sticklebag_, or any other small Fish will serve as wel: And you are yet to know, that you may salt, and by that means keep them fit for use three or four dayes or longer; and that of salt, bay salt is the best.
Now for _Flies_, which is the third bait wherewith _Trouts_ are usually taken. You are to know, that there are as many sorts of Flies as there be of Fruits: I will name you but some of them: as the _dun flie_, the _stone flie_, the _red flie_, the _moor flie_, the _tawny flie_, the _shel flie_, the _cloudy_ or blackish _flie_: there be of Flies, _Caterpillars_, and _Canker flies_, and _Bear flies_; and indeed, too many either for mee to name, or for you to remember: and their breeding is so various and wonderful, that I might easily amaze my self, and tire you in a relation of them.
And yet I wil exercise your promised patience by saying a little of the _Caterpillar_, or the _Palmer flie_ or _worm_; that by them you may guess what a work it were in a Discourse but to run over those very many _flies, worms_, and little living creatures with which the Sun and Summer adorn and beautifie the river banks and meadows; both for the recreation and contemplation of the Angler: and which (I think) I myself enjoy more then any other man that is not of my profession.