. _ -* I ^VVVW^^W^^^ ---^-^-^vv^w^ mm^m ""-;<" yU AAJL^A W ,u'*^U. ' ' ,-.. w ALFRED MOORGATE - a PfiftCtt THE MODERN ANGLER, CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ART OF SPINNING AND FULLY DESCRIBING THE TACKLE, AND OTHER REQUISITES. (Embellished with numerous Lithographs and Wood Engravings.) WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THIE B18TT IPLA@I INCLUDING C Co BY AUTHOR OF " A COMPLETE GUIDE TO SPINNING & TROLLING.") LONDON : L I? 1^ E I> & S O 54, MOOEGATE STREET. 1864. ERRATA. Page 19. "artifical" should read "artificial." 26. "fin" "pin." (in twentieth line from top of page.) 58. "connot" should read "cannot." CONTENTS. PART I. CHAPTER I. ANGLING REQUISITES CHAPTER II. THE SALMON CHAPTER III. THE TROUT CHAPTER IV. THE PIKE 20 CHAPTER V. THE GRAYLING ... 38 CHAPTER VI. THE PERCH AND POPE . . 40 CHAPTER VII. THE BARBEL AND BREAM 44 2067026 CHAPTER VIII. THE CARP AND TENCH ...... 52 CHAPTER IX. THE CHUB 55 CHAPTER X. THE ROACH, RUDD, AND DACE ... ... ... ... 58 CHAPTER XI. THE EEL, LAMPREY AND LAMPERN ... ... ... 67 CHAPTER XII. THE GUDGEON. BLEAK, &c. ... ... ... ... 69 PART II. CHAPTER I. THE THAMES 72 CHAPTER II. TRIBUTARIES OF THE THAMES THE LEA ... 87 CHAPTER III. TRIBUTARIES OF THE THAMES (continued) ... ... 91 CHAPTER IV. RIVERS . 95 CHAPTER V. LAKES, PONDS, &c. ... 100 PEEFACE. DEAR READER, I fancy 1 hear you say " What ! another work on Angling ! " Yes, but although there are already not a few, yet some treat of such very ancient descriptions of tackle, that they are too obsolete for these go-ahead days ; others, again, are more modern, but their parents being wedded to some particular method of Angling, immediately, like Dickens' immortal "Alderman Cute" seek to "put down " everything else, re- commending their special modus operandi as the one grand universal panacea for the general "want ; " viz: a sure method of taking fish with a rod and line. One Angler will gravely recommend you not to use anything but a worm; another sagely remarks that the gentle is the "correct thing;" whilst a third, probably a vegetarian concludes to use nothing but a green pea or a bit of paste. These three saga- 11 PREFACE. cious individuals being bottom fishers, pure et simple, and probably fishing in three totally .different methods, will declare that his is the only "certain ' ' style of Angling. Dear Eeader, be ad- vised by me, there is no really " certain " way of catching fish with the rod and line, for when everything may appear to be perfectly favorable, they wont feed ; another day, the water, weather and other etceteras, seem the reverse of pleasant, and yet somehow they will feed. Why is this ? Because probably there was something or other, insects perchance, in the water, which they preferred to your bait the first day ; whilst on the second, versatile creatures, they changed their minds and unfortunately for them pre- ferred your bait to the insects. The nearest approach to certainty is to fish fine and keep as much out of sight of the fish as possible. My object, therefore, has been in these pages to place before you as clearly and concisely as possible, the most modern and successful methods of angling for each description of fish, and to impress strongly on your mind that "practise makes perfect." Should you, Dear Eeader, be an " Old Hand" PREFACE. ill I trust that if some of my notions do not exactly agree with the views you may have hitherto entertained, you will be indulgent and not condemn them without trial. To the Angling Critic, I would, in conclusion, remark that 1 have been induced to pen these pages partly in consequence of the very success- ful reception with which my "Guide to Spinning and Trolling " was met, by the Angling World ; and partly at the earnest solicitation of numerous angling friends; reminding him that I have written them in as practical a manner as possible, so as to meet the comprehension of the veriest tyro, who I trust may be as successful in Angling as London, June, 1864. ANGLING REQUISITES. PART I, CHAPTER I. ANGLING REQUISITES. fjf place the Angler in a position to be ready at any moment, to angle in any river of the kingdom, for any description of fish that may happen to be in season, a considerable variety of articles would be required. But whilst one angler would not think for a moment, of fishing for anything but Salmon, Trout or Grayling ; dozens more are perfectly content to basket a few score of Roach or Barbel. I have, therefore, thought it preferable to men- tion in this chapter, the principal requirements of the Angler, from which he will then be able to select whatever may be necessary for his own particular branch of the science ; arranging the requisites in three sections, 1st : for angling at, or close to the surface of the water, and comprehending Fly-fishing. 2nd : for angling at about midwater, in- cluding Spinning and the different modes of using the natural or artificial fish-bait, 3rd : for angling at, or near the bottom of the water, with gentles, paste, worms and similar baits. When collecting the various necessaries, take my advice: as a Practical Angler, do not be deluded into purchasing "cheap" tackle, it is invariably the dearest. Buy good articles and pay a fair price ; as for the others, as Ephemera remarks in his " Handbook," "they must be defective in every way, and hence the purchaser meets with little success, much loss of tune and money, for, "cheap" things are always the most expensive in the end." ANGLING REQUISITES. 'N the first section. The Angler will require for Salmon : the Fly Rod ; this should be in four pieces, the butt I? of ash, the two next joints of hickory, and the top of ,Ji lancewood ; it should have one spare long top, and an extra top, half the length of the others, to use for fishing with a minnow, or worm. The Joints should fit together with shoulders and tongues, all of which should be brazed. Do not select a rod too pliable, nor go to the other extreme of stiffness, but choose a happy medium. Have one with rings of a good size, should you perchance have a knot in the line, you will find the benefit. It should vary in length from sixteen to eighteen feet, the former for grilse and the latter for large salmon. There are three sorts of winches ; plain entirely ; plain witli a click, these are termed check-winches ; and multipliers, that is, one turn of the handle turns the inner barrel contain- ing the line, three times ; these are very useful when quick- ness in winding up the line is an object. The materials of the line are,- prepared plaited silk ; twisted silk and hair ; and plaited silk and hair. The two latter are made tapering, the other the same size throughout. The casting lines and flies are described in Chapter II. The Fly Rod for Trout, Grayling, Ch\ib, &c. is of the same material as the Salmon Rod, excepting the tops, these are of spliced cane. As regards the number of joints, there is some difference of opinion ; I prefer a Rod in four joints, but those in three joints and five joints have their admirers. The Winch, Line and Flies, are described in Chapter II. A Fly Book is an indispensable requisite to hold the flies, gut casting lines, &c., russia leather is the best material, as it preserves the flies from moth. A landing net or gaffhook is also needful, I prefer the former for Trout, reserving the other for larger fish. The Landing Ring should be made to fold up ; there are two sorts, the ordinary folding Ring, and the improved spring ring, which when not in use, may be tied in the bag with the rod. I prefer for use, the improved Telescope Handle ; this is in two joints, and may either be used the full length, or by pushing in the small joint and turning the screw, can be . ANGLING REQUISITES. 3 used half-length, this is extremely useful for Trout fishing, especially when wading ; it is also furnished with a small hook so as to hang to the button-hole. The Net may be either silk or the ordinary twine. jLL the reqxiisites for the second section comprising : Rod, Winch, Line, Traces, Flights, Live Bait Hooks, Tin Case to hold tackle, Kettle, &c. will be found fully _ _ described in Chapters III. and IV. In addition to these I would recommend the Angler to have a large Fish Bag or Haversack ; having a division, so as to form two pockets, the outer one for fish, and the inner one for tackle. He will find it considerably more convenient than the Pannier, which always appears to be in the way, while the Fish Bag fitting close to the side, will hold more and when not in use can be rolled up and carried in the pocket. 5 N the third section, the wants appear somewhat more i- numerous : The Roach Rod, as used in the Lea, is from " sixteen to twenty feet in length, of the lightest cane, stiff JCs and sharp in the strike ; this is fitted together with shoulders only ; and has no rings whatever. The Thames Punt Rods are from ten to eleven feet in length, in four joints. Of light cane, for Roach and Dace ; of hickory or mottled cane for Barbel, Perch, &c., the winches and running lines will be described in the following Chapters. The bottom lines should be of the very best silkworm gut, stained a light water-blue, stout in proportion to the parti- cular style of fishing preferred. But always use the very finest gut possible for Roach ; some prefer horse hair. Hair lines may be entirely single or twisted half-way down, so that in case of a fracture you save the float. The Floats are of various materials : Quill, Reed, Cork (on a Porcupine-quill) &c., I prefer the first for Roach and the last for Perch and Barbel. The Hooks on gut run in sizes from No. 1 to 12, those on hair from No. 7 to 13. The Leger Line and Paternoster will also be required as well as spare hooks and leads for each ; besides Disgorgers, 4 ANGLING REQUISITES. Plummets, a reel to hold the lines and floats, with a tackle book to contain the reel and spare hooks, &c. A landing net and handle is also indispensable ; also a bait box and bag. A Clearing Ring and a Drag will sometimes be found very useful ; nor should spare float-caps and split shot, be forgotten. The best Gentles are those obtained from a bullock's liver, cut several gashes in it, and then hang up till well fly-blown, placing under it a tub containing damp sand to catch the gentles as they fall. The Worms used in Angling are of several kinds ; the largest, Lobworms, are found in gardens ; on a damp evening in the summer, they may be gathered in great numbers. Marshworms, are very common, they are next in size to the lob. Brandlings are known by the yellow rings round the body, and are found in dunghills. Red-worms are of a fine bright red color when well scoured. Blood-worms are about an inch long, of a bright blood color, and are found in ponds frequented by cows. The best method of cleaning or scouring worms for use, is to place them on damp moss ; to preserve them for a length of time, dip some old clean coarse cloths or sacking into fatty liquor, not salt, and mix them with some mould in a large tub, place the worms on the top, they will soon crawl through to the bottom, feeding and cleansing themselves ; if kept in a cool dark place they will keep lively for months ; looking over them occasionally, to remove the dead or sickly worms. Some Anglers while fishing with the Rod and Line, lay in a Bank Runner ; the point of this is stuck firmly in the ground, the reel on the top contains about twenty yards of water cord, at the end of which is fixed a hook swivel, and about two feet up the line is fastened a small bullet ; it is used with a live bait and float or bung for Jack ; or without the float for Eels, baiting with a lob and letting the bullet rest at the bottom of the water. Trimmers are also sometimes used in Ponds for taking large Jack. These are set afloat with a live bait in the most likely place, and are so constructed that when a Pike seizes the bait, the Trimmer turns over and displays a different color, being painted red one side, white the other. Ducks SALMON. and Geese are sometimes used instead of Trimmers, the line is tied round the body and a strong hook and large bait is used. All these ways, however, are unworthy of the true Angler, who exercises his skill for amusement, and should only use the rod and line. CHAPTER II. SALMON. E Fish that stands highest in the estimation of the true Angler is the Salmon. His rapid yet graceful motions, muscular powers, and beautiful proportions, as much as the superior delicacy of his flavour as an edible, proclaim him the noblest of the denizens of the river ; and his title to precedence has never yet been questioned. His natural history has been already so well described in Ephemera's " Book of the Salmon," that for full particulars of this interesting subject I cannot do better than refer my readers to that work, as well as to the occasional notices in the columns of the " Field." Salmon spawn between September and February, on shallows and fords ; the combined influence of running water and of solar and atmospheric action being necessary to vivify the ova impregnated by the milt. The actual operation occupies from two to ten days according to the size of the Fish ; and the actual date of deposit varies in different rivers. The Spawning completed, the parent fish drop down to the nearest deep pool till they recover suffi- ciently to commence their voyage to the Sea, returning to their native river in from two to three months ; some entering the rivers on their return, as early as February. (J SALMON'. The principal method of Angling for Salmon is with the Artificial Fly. The fly-rod for Salmon should be from sixteen to eighteen feet in length, according to the size of the river you Intend to fish ; and should be furnished with two long tops and one short one, the latter to use when minnow fishing and the spare fly-top in case of a fracture. The Line should be from sixty to a hundred yards long, on a free-running check winch. Some first-rate fishermen prefer the line of prepared plaited silk, not tapered, whilst others never use anything but silk and hair, tapering towards the end. The Casting-lines are of plaited gut, twisted gut, and extra stout single gut ; usually three yards long. The Flies vary exceedingly ; in Ireland, it is the practice to use them large and gaudy ; whilst in Scotland, dull flies with, in general, a speckled wing, and claret or orange body ribbed with gold twist, are more killing ; in English rivers rather a smaller fly is used than in Scotland, but in a greater variety of colors. The size and color of Salmon Flies, how- ever must always vary considerably according to the depth and color of the water, the state of the weather and season of the year. There are scarcely any rules of an universal character to be laid down ; experience must be the sole guide in the matter. If a description were to be given of all the killing flies, their names would be legion, and would require a greater amount of space than our present limits will permit. There are three parts principally to be learnt in fly-fishing for Salmon: 1st to throw the fly properly, 2nd to work it when in the water, and finally, to hook and play the Salmon till it is within reach of the gaff. The best Salmon fisher is not he who throws the longest line, but the one who throws it adroitly to a moderate distance and makes the best of his fly when in the water. The following is the most natural manner of throwing the Salmon Fly : the right hand grasps the Rod above the winch, the left being below it, and the right foot advanced. Bring your Rod and Line freely in an easy semicircular sweep over the right shoulder, until the right arm is extended in a verti- cal direction over the right side of the head ; then giving a SALMON. 7 strong action to the right arm, send the Rod and Line strongly forward ; and when this combined action is performed without nervousness, but dashingly and in an energetic manner, the fly will be forced forward to its destination. Begin with about twenty yards, and when you can throw that well, increase the distance by degrees. This cast is intended for fishing down the left side of a river, with the right side of the Angler nearest the water. For fishing down the right side of the river, reverse the above directions ; grasp the Rod with the left hand above the winch, the right hand below, and the left foot to the front ; with the left side next the water. Making use chiefly of the left arm, you sweep the Rod over the left shoulder, till you feel the Line extended in the air behind, and then propel it forward, as if you were going to strike with the Rod, at something hovering over the river, in the direction you wish to send the fly. Checking the forward motion of the Rod, the Line will be sent straight out, the fly and gut-line dropping first on the water. Do not bend over too much with the descending Rod as it brings the point of it too close on the water, deadening its elastic and propelling action ; and causing the Line to fall in a slovenly manner on the stream. The Salmon Fly unlike those used for Trout, is never worked with or down the stream, but against it ; it then seems like some splendid large insect, swimming up steam beneath the surface, by fits and starts ; whereas if worked down steam, it would roll over in an unnatural manner on account of the heaviness of its wings. Cast it as straight down the river as possible ; if from the bank, slantingly down and across, bringing it round without delay into the line of the current. Work it towards you by raising and lowering the point of the Rod ; when the Rod is raised, so also will be the fly, the water will then press down its wings ; on lowering the top the fly goes downwards and the water open ing the fibres of the wings and hackles, displays all its beauty. Do not perform these motions too rapidly or you do not permit the full developement of the colors of the fly ; should you observe a Salmon following it, lower the point so as to cause the fly to move gently towards him, and in nine cases oxit of ten he will take it eagerly. 8 SALMON. Salmon will rarely be seen resting where the bottom is smooth; but incline more towards rocks and large stones, should a rapid current run between them, work the fly on each side of it, between the still water and the rapid. In a rocky pool they will lie in almost any part, but especially in the point of meeting of two currents formed by rocks standing apart but opposite each other. Throw the fly below and work it up the middle between them ; afterwards on the inner side of each. Never strike too sharply at Salmon ; it is best to strike gently a little sideways, this is quite sufficient and he will hook himself fast enough, on turning to move off. Use him gently and coax him, as it were, from the shelter of his rocky strong- hold into open water, where he can have a clear field and no favour. Put the strain on him whenever you can, and select the clearest spot on the bank for landing him ; if he is a large nsh in full vigour, he may perhaps tow you a mile up or down the water before you are able to exhaust him sufficiently to bring him to the gaff. The best place to insert this, is beneath the gills ; the next best, is behind one of the pectoral fins, Salmon are also taken with the Spinning-bait, a description of the method of using which, will be given in the next chapter. Also with prawns, lobworms, &c. LU QC h LU I TROUT. CHAPTER III. TKOUT. 'HE Trout is next in importance to the Salmon in the piscatory world ; in the rivers of the Midland Counties, the average weight of the Trout is from one to two pounds, more being taken under than over that weight : the color, shape and quality of the fish varying according to the water it inhabits. An intelligent and sagacious individual, he carefully avoids thick or dirty waters, and revels in the clear mountain stream, calling forth the utmost efforts of the ingenuity and skill of the Angler ere he becomes his captive. When in full season, observe his fascinating and prepossessing figure, sparkling in all the gorgeous colors of the rainbow, and shaped in strict accordance with the most refined rules of sym- metrical proportion. Look at the reverse of the picture, and see him out of condition, and the contrast is wonderful. A thin black wretched-looking creature, with a head apparently too large for his body, who that has not seen him in both conditions, would believe that this was the nice and fastidious exquisite who charmed our senses with his every movement ? Allusion has been made as yet, only to the ordinary river Trout ; but there are other varieties, such as the sea-trout, bull-trout, lake-trout, and the large Thames-trout. This latter grows to an extremely large size, and although an occasional one or two may be taken with a fly, yet the great majority are taken with the spinning-bait ; one was taken in Marlow Weirpool, May llth, 1863, weighing fifteen pounds, which was preserved and may be seen at the Anglers, Marlow Bridge ; and I believe there are others in the neighbourhood of even larger size. Trout spawn about October or November, the law allowing them to be taken, in the Thames, after the end of January ; JO TROUT. but the season does not really commence till the 1st of April, and in most other rivers not till the 1st of May. They are influenced very much in their recovery from Spawning, by the state of the weather ; as an instance, a few seasons since, I caught one (in the Thames) weighing nearly thirteen pounds early In April ; in the following year, but one day later in the month, I took one weighing seven pounds and a half, and the difference in appearance was extraordinary. The first year, the weather had been very warm and the fish in April were in first-rate condition ; the second year had been altogether as cold and the fish were proportionately thin and black. All Trout have their haunt or place of retreat, generally some large stone, or root of a tree ; each fish appearing to have its regular portion of water, and seldom trespassing on that belong- ing to its neighbour. If one of these sections of the stream becomes vacant, a new occupant soon takes possession. And it is simply by being aware of the position of these haunts, that an Angler knowing a river, possesses such a decided advantage over one who does not, however skilful he may be in other respects. In the Spring, Trout are found in rough streams and shallows ; seeking deeper water in the summer. They also delight in whirlpools and holes beneath a rapid shallow ; under bridges, rocks and below weirs. Those that frequent overhanging banks and bushes, or lie hidden under cover of trees during sunshine, are much darker and yellower, than those that love the unshaded stream with a clear sandy bottom ; these are altogether as silvery and bright, though belonging to the same family. Trout are taken with the fly ; by spinning a minnow or other small fish ; and with the worm, gentle, &c. The most useful length for a Trout fly-rod is between eleven and twelve feet, in four pieces and with an extra top. Do not have a rod too whippy, for a novice it is better rather stiff than otherwise. The fly-line should be thirty yards in length (in some rivers you may require more) on a light multiplying winch. The material of the winch-line may be either prepared plaited silk, or silk and hair, spun or plaited, and tapering toward the point, to which is TROUT. 1 1 attached the casting-line ; this is of silkworm gut, three yards in length, and fine in proportion to the river you intend fishing. With regard to Flies there are about as many different patterns as there are days in the year. In the Spring I should use the Dark Dun, Olive Dun, Hare's Ear, Partridge Hackle, Red Spinner, Hofland, Wellington, March Brown, Soldier Palmer, Coch-y-bonddhu, Emperor, and Stone Fly. Summer : Oak, Cowdung, Sand, Grannam, Alder, the various Palmers, Whirling Dun, Dotteril, Gold Plover, Carshalton Cocktail, Wrentail, Grouse, Yellow Sally, Fern, Coachman, the Green and Grey Drakes. Autumn : Ant, Pale Dun, August Dun, Cinnamon, Alder, Governor and the Palmers. Be guided in the size of fly, of course, by the river you are visiting ; in the Thames, for example, you will require a very large size for Trout, whilst, in the Wandle, none but the very smallest cock-tails, will tempt the appetite of the spotted beauties of this stream, upon which the may-fly is never seen. One indispensable qualification of a fly-fisher is, to be able to throw a fly well to any spot he may wish ; this is an art that can only be learnt by practice, in fact, whilst you are learning and the fish are in season, there should be nulla dies sine lined. Remember, in fly-fishing, as in spinning, one or two practical lessons at the waterside, are worth all the teach- ing that can be written. Put together the Rod, so that all the rings are standing in a straight line, fix the winch to the butt, and draw the line through all the rings till you have four or five yards hanging uncoiled from the end ring of the top. Hold the rod in the right hand, a little above the winch, the thumb pointing straight along the rod on the upper side of the butt, which must be encircled by the remaining fingers. Now hold the rod almost perpendicular, but pointing some- what to the left, with the tip of the line between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand. Use no flies or gut casting line till you can throw the plain running-line with a tolerable degree of certainty. Poising the rod freely and easily, move your right wrist and forearm round to the right ; let go the tip of the line, held in the left hand, when it begins to feel taut, at the same time, describing a sort of oval in the air 12 TROUT. with the point of the rod, by bringing it from left to right over the right shoulder, and casting forward by a motion of the wrist and forearm. When you have propelled the line forward the action of casting should be gradually checked directly the line is straightening out to the front. If held properly, that portion of the butt, between your hand and the spike, will touch the under part of the forearm, at the same time that the line is coming in contact with the water ; this will prevent the point of the rod falling too low, and thus causing too much line to fall on the surface. Begin with about five yards of slack line, increasing a yard or two at a time, till you can manage ten with tolerable ease ; when you may add the casting-line. Practise till you can ensure the gut falling on the surface of the stream ere any of the reel line touches it. There are various other methods of throwing the fly, but when you have become thoroughly perfect in this, which I consider the easiest style, then you can soon vary the different movements, according as circumstances may arise ; such as a variation in the direction of the wind, or obstructions on the bank, or in the river. Commence with one fly at the end of the gut-line, this is termed the " stretcher " ; when you can work this in a satis- factory manner, add a second, called a " dropper " fastened about two feet up the line at one of the joinings ; and after- wards another " dropper," about two feet higher again. The joinings of the gut-cast being formed of two slip knots, the end of the gut to which the dropper is tied, is knotted and pushed through; the slip knots being drawn tight, all is secure. Anglers are divided in opinion, at which end of the stream you should commence. The best way, to my idea, is to fish up stream ; then if you hook a heavy fish, ten to one that he bolts downstream, disturbing only, water that you have already fished. Keep as far from the edge of the water as possible; delivering your cast, float your flies down, humouring them on the surface of the stream and working them round towards the bank. Repeat your cast a step higher up and so on ; strike gently from the wrist, the moment you see and feel a " rise," with a very quick, yet gentle motion, by which TROUT. 13 the hand is displaced about two inches only. This, when done at the moment the fish has closed his mouth on the fly, is certain to secure a hold for the hook in some portion of the mouth. Having hooked your fish, he probably endeavours at first, to shake out the hook by splashing on the surface ; pointing your rod slightly to him, will cause him to quit it. The moment he sinks, keep him well in hand, according to his size, raising the point of the rod well up ; as he rushes away, hold him gently and when possible, show him the butt, by inclining the rod backwards over the shoulder. Do not strain on him too much, but after checking him a few times, and you find his struggles become weaker, wind up ; and guiding him to the easiest landing place, bring him within reach of the landing net. Be careful not to use this roughly so as to frighten the Trout at the last moment, when you might possibly be unprepared for a violent plunge ; but sink the net and bringing him quietly over it, lift it up without jerking and secure your prize. In some streams, dibbing for Trout with the natural fly is very much practised. When the may-fly is on the water, this method is extremely killing. Use the ordinary fly-rod with a very fine gut casting-line attached to the winch-line ; and a No. 9 or 10 hook. Catching one of the flies at which you observe the Trout rising, place it carefully on the hook. Standing as far back as possible, allow the wind to carry it on to the water ; if a fish does not rise, lift and drop it again. Strike directly it is taken. For the best general list of trout rivers and the flies peculiar to them, I would advise the reader to consult Hof- land's " British Angler's Manual." ^PINNING for Trout is much practised in the Thames, and occasionally with great success, especially at the commencement of the season ; early in the morning and towards sunset are generally the best times. In my " Complete Guide to Spinning and Trolling," will be found the following remarks, extremely characteristic of the Thames Trout : " When dropping down the stream quietly in a punt, on a fine summer's evening, while the setting sun tinges the 14 TROUT. distant water with gold, the Trout may be observed feeding on the shallows, and driving the minnows and other small fish in shoals towards the shore, being as voracious in that respect as their mortal enemy, the Pike ; their mouth is admirably adapted for the purpose, the jaws and tongue being studded with small teeth, they are thus enabled to destroy multitudes of small bleak, minnows and gudgeons." " Next to the lordly Salmon, to which, to my mind, it is quite equal in beauty, the Trout may be considered the most game of fresh-water fish. Who, that has ever experienced it, can forget the first rush of a noble Thames Trout in full season, especially if the Angler be spinning from a weir ; he dashes down the run, some sixty yards or so, like a flash of lightning, making the line whistle through the rings, and as if determined to carry all before him ; now he rises to the surface, and springing out full a yard, throws a somersault in the air, and tries by that means to rid himself of the hooks ; but the skilful Angler frustrates this little device, by lowering the point of the rod and meeting him half-way. By careful management he is at last tired out, and his captor taking advantage of of a moment's quiet, descends from his position on the weir, and safely lands his prize on the grassy bank below." The Spinning Bod I use is of mottled cane, about thirteen feet in length ; light and somewhat springy, as the bait and trace being rather light (unless when fishing very rapid water) the spring of the rod will be found of great assistance in throwing the bait. The rod should be in four pieces for convenience of carriage and with two extra tops ; a large wooden button should be screwed to the socket of the butt, to press against the hip when spinning. I always use the check-winch ; with a spring handle, to allow of the handle being turned over when not in use and save it from the chance of being bent by a fall or blow. Some prefer the hardwood winches. Instead of allowing the line, in spinning, to lie at their feet in the usual manner, they throw the line directly from the winch, using rather a long rod, and wind it in again on to the winch instead of drawing it in with the hand. But as these wooden winches, or reels, run extremely TRACE WITH "FIELD* LEAD SENSATION SILVER BAIT TROUT. 15 easy, they require considerable care in use ; for if the line is thrown from them with the least jerk, the bait will go in any direction but the right one, and when it has dropped in the "water and the line ceased running-out, the winch, from the impetus it has received, will run on and wind the line the reverse way, often entangling it and getting it into knots. We next come to the Line ; this should be of the best plaited silk, from sixty to a hundred yards hi length, and fine ; properly prepared with waterproof dressing, which pre- vents it kinking, as it is impossible to throw a bait properly with a line that kinks or curls up in knots as the undressed lines invariably do when they are soaked with water; be particular to dry the line well after use, before putting it away, in order to keep it from rotting. The next thing required is the Trace. The one I use in the Thames is about two yards in length, of gut, slightly coloured ; with four swivels, and from eight to sixteen shots in the middle of the trace, as in the sketch ; the same style of trace may be used in any river, varying of course, the strength and the weight according to the size of the fish and the rapidity of the current. In the Colne, and similar small rivers, I should use the finest gut for the traces and flights of hooks, weighting them in proportion. An extremely useful weight for the trace is that known as the " Field " lead ; so called, through being originated by one of the editors of that celebrated Sporting Newspaper. The 16 TROUT, shape is given in the annexed sketch ; it will be observed, that the lead is made so that all the weight will be on one side, the other side being just thick enough to cover the hole through which the gut passes. The swivels on this trace are all below the lead ; and when in use, the weight being entirely underneath, it effectually prevents the line, above it, turning round or kinking. It is much used in trailing. Next in order are the flights of Hooks, of which there are a great variety. The one I use consists of three triangle hooks, a sliding lip hook and a reverse hook, mounted on gut, as in the sketch. Drawings of other flights will be found in the chapter on Pike fishing, smaller sizes of which, mounted on gut instead of gimp, answer equally well for Trout ; of these No. 1 is the same pattern as already mentioned, but has a fly triangle, Nos. 2 and 3 are without the reverse hook ; of these No. 1 is the best. The manner of baiting with minnow, small bleak or gudgeon, will be obvious on looking at the sketch foregoing. The Water- Witch described at Page 26, made sufficiently small and mounted on gut will be found a first-rate trout tackle ; easy to bait and spinning well. There are two other very good spinning-tackle, somewhat similar in appearance when baited, but differing greatly in construction and in the mode of baiting. We take first, because it is the oldest, (and not because it is the best), the one known as "Hawker's Tackle." It is in this form: a large fine minnow trolling-hook is whipped to a length of gut ; about half-an-inch from the end of the shank of it, is whipped a No. 8 lip-hook ; to the lip-hook is also fastened a short piece of gut, of sufficient length to reach to the end of the large hook. A small triangle is now whipped to the end of the short piece, and the tackle is completed by looping the long gut. To bait it : the point of the large hook is inserted in the mouth of a large bright minnow, which is now to be threadled up the hook, the point of which is brought out at the centre of the tail. The small lip-hook is run through both lips, and the bait is completed by sliding down the gut a small hollow lead cap which fits close on the nose of the minnow. The triangle flies loose over the tail. HAWKER'S TACKLE BAITED FRANCIS' TACKLE TROUT. 17 The other tackle is the " Francis." A Drawing of it is annexed, which will almost explain itself. First, there is a large fine minnow-hook on gut; next, there is a lip-hook with fly triangle attached, the lip-hook being furnished with a small gut-loop at each end of the shank. To bait it : the large hook is attached to a baiting-needle by means of a loop at the end of the gut ; the needle is then entered in the centre of the tail of a minnow or other small bait, pushed through and brought out at the mouth, the gut being drawn through till the hook is covered by the minnow ; the tail of which, will thus receive its proper curve. Remove the needle and pass the loop of the long gut, through the small loops on the lip-hook, which is then run through both lips, and the bait will appear much the same as " Hawker's Tackle Baited " but is of course without the lead cap. The baits for small streams may be either minnows, or small, bright gudgeons. I prefer the latter, as they spin better and last longer, whereas the minnows soon tear and become useless. For larger streams, I use a small bleak, which has, when properly placed on the hooks, a very bright and star-like appearance in the water, although, like the minnow, it soons wears out, unless used with great care. The bait should be always placed on the hooks with a scrupu- lous regard to its spinning truly, for I have always found that the better the bait spins, the better the Trout likes it, and as a matter of course, the greater the chance of success. Of the artificial baits, the minnow, spinning by means of the Pectoral fin and mounted on gut in a similar manner to to the drawing at Page 27, I have found one of the most successful ; killing with it large Trout and Perch, when they had decidedly refused the natural bait. The " Sensation " bait is equally good when the water is slightly coloured. The other artificial baits mentioned at Page 28, may be used for Trout and Perch, when made on a small scale and mounted on gut. To throw the Spinning bait, draw from the winch as much line as you deem necessary to reach the distance you intend to throw ; commence with ten or fifteen yards ; when you are able to throw that length of line neatly, then increase it 18 TROUT. a yard or two at a time. A master of the art will throw from forty to fifty yards of line, but on no account have out more line than you can conveniently manage ; if you do, it will only be in your way, and when fishing from the bank will be sure to catch up loose twigs and grass. Drawing the the requisite length of line from your winch, let it fall in loose coils in front of your left foot. Hold the rod firmly in the right hand about eighteen inches up the butt ; the wooden button on the socket of which should be kept tight to the hip ; draw the line in with the thumb and two first fingers of the left hand, till the bait hangs about five or six feet from the top of the rod. Bring the point of the rod, round to the right, to give the bait the necessary swing, and throw the bait sharply to the left (or vice versd, as occasion may require) at the same time letting free the line in the left hand ; still keeping the butt tight to the hip. The bait will then be carried out to the full extent of the line, the coiled portion running freely through the rings. As soon as the bait enters the water, spin it either across or against the stream ; in fact, in any direction that the nature of the place may render most convenient to yourself. The line, which is now held lightly in the same hand as the rod, should be drawn through the right hand, about a couple of feet at a time, by the thumb and the two first fingers of the left hand ; coiling it at the feet as before. Keep the rod steady with the point about a foot from the surface of the water, holding it hi such a manner that the top may keep a slight strain upon the line, which should not be drawn in too fast at each backward motion of the left hand. The beginner in the art should learn the method of gathering up the line in the left hand as practised by the Thames puntmen, he will find it extremely useful when fishing from a weir. " Let him observe a first-rate Thames Spinner standing on the top of a weir (a performance requiring rather a strong head and good nerves) casting his bait into the foaming torrent below ; now gathering up the line with the thumb and little finger of the left hand, and again throwing out the spinning-bait from a twelve or thirteen feet rod with the right hand, at the same time letting go the gathered line, and spinning the bait TROUT. 19 across the eddies in a masterly manner, while the left hand is again collecting the line for another throw. All this should be seen to be admired and imitated, for no description can do it anything like justice." This was my advice in " Spinning and Trolling " to the novice in the art, and I can only repeat that the best way to become proficient is to observe and imitate a first-class fisherman. Although, when spinning, the fish will often hook himself, yet it is safer to strike with a short and moderately strong jerk of the wrist as soon as the bait is taken ; playing and landing him secundum artem. UNE, July and August are the best months for using the worm. Fish with a light, thirteen feet cane rod, with upright rings, and a very fine running-line. If the water is very clear, the best places would be under bushes, or by the side of piles, &c. The worm may be used either with or without a float, should you intend fishing with a float, use a small quill, ascertaining the depth as directed in " Perch Fishing ;" keep if possible a few yards above your swim, and occasionally throw in a few worms chopped ex- tremely small. The bottom line should be ot the finest gut, and the hook about No. 5 for a worm ; or No. 9 if for gentles, when baiting with these, throw in a few carrion gentles, now and then, at the head of the swim. When fishing without a float, let the stream carry the bait down, and strike when you feel a bite ; this method is very successful when using a large artifical caterpillar made entirely of peacock herl on a No. 1 hook. PIKE. CHAPTER IV. PIKE. f HIS voracious Fish has a flattish head, the under jaw being rather longer than the upper one and turning up slightly at the point ; the mouth is immensely large and is thickly studded with teeth, the lower jaw being furnished round the edge with large and sharp canine teeth. The body of a Jack or Pike is long, with small hard scales ; when in season the back is of a greenish gold color shading into a creamy white under the belly, and is beautifully marked on the back and sides with large yellowish spots ; the eyes are bright yellow, so placed in the sockets as to enable the Pike to see what passes above him ; the fins and tail are a dark purply color marked with dark wavy lines. Pike, or Jack (as they are termed when small) are found in ponds, lakes, canals and rivers, where there are beds of weeds ; and grow to a very large size, I have seen them weighing 40 Ibs. From March to the end of June they are out of season, resorting to ditches and creeks, or the stillest parts of the river for the purpose of spawning ; at such times the small ones take the bait eagerly, but are only fit to be re- turned to the water. From July (on the first of which month Jack-fishing usually commences) to October, they are generally found near, or amongst sedges, water-docks or flag weeds. They are seldom found where the stream is very rapid, but a retreat in the vicinity of a whirlpool, or sharp bend is a favourite locality. In rivers, about the middle of September, when the weeds are rotting, Jack may be observed lying among the weeds, basking in the sun ; appearing too lazy to take a bait, for it is not unusual to see the small fly swimming and playing about their deadly enemy, without his taking the trouble to disturb them. As the Winterapproach.es, Pike retire PIKE. 21 into deeps, under clay banks, or where bushes overhang the water, and where sunken roots of trees, and stumps afford them a stronghold. The most favourable weather for Jack-fishing, is when a slight breeze blows from the south-west, sufficient to ripple the water ; and the day cloudy and dull. Thick water is not favourable, for during a flood, which causes a coloured water, Jack and Pike keep close in-shore, among the rushes, and sedges, which grow near the banks ; or in the still bends of rivers to keep out of the rapid current, remaining almost stationary until the waters clear and subside ; but as soon as this occurs, then comes the Angler's turn, for having been for some time on short allowance, they are then bold, vora- cious, and will fearlessly take the bait. The voracity of the Pike is well known to be enormous. In April, 1863, whilst spinning for Trout at Marlow, my gut flight was bitten off by a Jack ; putting on a fresh flight and bait, I threw in the same direction as before, the very first throw I caught him, with the first flight still in his mouth ; and know of many similar occurrences. There are several instances of Pike being choked through trying to swallow one but slightly smaller than themselves. There is a case men- tioned of a large Pike seizing a Swan by the head while it was groping for food among the weeds in a lake. He got the head down, but the body was too large even for his capacious jaws ; being unable to disgorge, he was choked, and the bodies were found a few days afterwards on the shore. They will in fact, seize anything, from a Swan to a leaden plummet. While an Angler was plumbing the depth in a roach-swim, in the Lea, some time since, a Jack of two pounds took the plummet ; he was safely landed, owing to the hook projecting slightly from the side of the plummet, f ACK-FISHING may be classed under four heads viz : Spinning, Live-bait-fishing, Trolling, and Snap-fishing. Spinning is by far the most scientific and interesting method of fishing for Pike, requiring some amount of muscular exertion to practise it properly. The most useful Rod is of mottled cane ; from twelve to thirteen feet w length, 22 for fishing from a punt, and rather longer for bank-fishing. It is best in four pieces, so as to be in a compact form for travelling ; and with two extra tops of different lengths, to be used for Snap, and Live-bait-fishing. The shoulders of each joint should be double brazed, the plain shoulders almost invari- ably sticking in the ferrule of the next joint, in wet weather, in consequence of the wood swelling ; when this occurs, any difficulty in taking the rod to pieces, arising from this cause may be obviated by warming the long ferrule in the flame of a candle ; when cold, it may be separated easily. The rings at the end of the tops should be of steel, to counteract the effects of the constant friction of the line. All the other rings should be fixed upright. Besides the mottled cane rods, there are others of hickory with the butt of ash and the tops of lancewood. These are capital for heavy fishing and rough work, but I give the pre- ference to the mottled East India cane as much for its handsome appearance as for the difference in weight and its general utility. The Winch should be either entirely a plain one, or, what is called, a plain-check. For convenience of packing I should recommend the check-winch, with the handle made to turn over ; when the handle is left up in the ordinary manner, a slight blow will sometimes render it almost unserviceable ; through being bent or twisted. For this reason I always use the spring handle. Some fishermen prefer the hard-wood winches, which run very easy ; these are very useful "when live-baiting. The Line should be from sixty to a hundred yards long, of the best eight-plait silk, rather fine, so as to make as little show as possible in the water. It should be prepared with waterproof dressing to prevent kinking. The Trace for Spinning, which is fastened to the line thus : the end of the line being first knotted to prevent it slipping when wet, should be of moderate sized gimp, with from two PIKE. 23 to four swivels, and about three feet in length ; the weight (shots or "field" lead) required on it to sink the spinning bait, will vary, of course, according to the water in which it is to be used. A trace which would be heavy for still water, such as a lake, unless very deep, would probably be much too light for a stream such as is found in some parts of the Thames and similar rivers. For my own part, I prefer large salmon gut for the material of the trace, as it is quite equal in strength to gimp, if not stronger, besides being trans- parent in the water. Still, using moderate sized gimp for the flight of hooks or artificial bait. The following short Trace will often be found use- ful, when extra weight is requir- ed: the requisite number of shots being strung on a short piece of gimp the ends of this are fastened to a couple of swivels; loop of gut or yellow gimp being attached to each of these, the Trace is ready for use. The Flight I use and con- sider the best, is composed of three triangles, a reverse hook and sliding lip-hook, mounted on yellow gimp, the length of the flight being in proportion to the bait. To bait it ; the hook in the triangle at the end of the flight, lying in a line with the reverse hook, is in- serted in the centre of the root of the tail, the reverse hook is then inserted in the side of the bait, nearly opposite the vent ; one hook of each of the remain- ing triangles is inserted in the PIKE. side of the fish, in a line with the mouth, keeping the body straight, and on passing the lip-hook through both lips, the bait is ready for use. By keeping the body perfectly straight as far as the rent and curving the tail almost at right angles with the body, the bait will spin " true " when drawn through the water. Some Ang- lers prefer the bait to spin with a "wobbling" motion, considering that it then more resem- bles a wounded fish, but I always prefer a straight spinner. Besides the one just mentioned, there are the fol- lowing flights, which are on the same principle of curving the tail, but two of them are withoxit the reverse hook. No. ] is the flight already described, but with the ad- dition of a fly tri- angle, this is mounted on a short piece of gimp, having a small loop which is passed down the gimp of No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. PIKE. 25 No. 4. the flight you intend to use, before it is fastened to the trace ; and hangs on the the lip-hook. One hook of this triangle may be inserted in the reverse side of the bait, which otherwise would be exposed without hooks. By the way, loose fly triangles are not novelties, I have used them myself more than a dozen years since; and am persuaded that if they were more generally in use, there would be fewer instances of fish being really missed with the spinning bait. Nos. 2 and 3 are also good patterns. There is another variety of flight great- ly fancied by some Thames Spinners ; it consists of four triangles, and a lip-hook attached to the gimp by one very small loop only, at the end of the shank of the hook. When used, the end triangle is fixed in the tail and the others along the side, the second triangle being inserted in the fish, so as to curve the tail ; before the lip-hook goes through the lips, the gimp is twisted two or three times round the shank of the hook to prevent it slipping. The "Francis" flight has been already described in the chapter on Trout fishing; made on gimp, of a size large enough for Dace or large gudgeon, it will be found an extremely good tackle for Pike. No. 4 is baited thus : the baiting needle, to which is attached the loop of the gimp, is inserted in the vent of the bait ; push it through, and drawing it out at the mouth, bring the triangle close up to the vent and insert the loose hook in the tail, to give it the necessary curve ; take off the needle, and drawing the lead 26 PIKE. down the gimp, force it into the mouth of the bait which is now ready for use. The whole of the weight being concealed in the bait, none is re- quired on the trace. No. 5, the "Water Witch" like the last, has the whole of the weight in the head of the bait ; the spinning motion being pro- duced by the pectoral fins at the head. The Spear, having on it the lead (which it will be observed has a small projecting fin pointing towards the head, for the purpose of retaining the bait in proper position) is pushed dawn the throat of the bait, so that only the fins are left projecting on either side of the mouth ; the fly-tri- angles may either be left loose, or one hook of each inserted in the bait ; which, last, will be safer if there are many weeds. The best Natural Spinning Baits are Gudgeons., Dace, or No. 5. PIKE. 27 small Chub from five to six inches in length. Some ang- lers prefer a Roach, but unless a very narrow one be used, it will not spin in so satisfactory a man- ner as a Dace. .1 have also spun with a very small Barbel in default of having a Gudgeon of the requisite size. Bait- ing a flight so as to spin properly is not a very easy opera- tion for a beginner, but practice and a careful attention to the foregoing directions will soon overcome these little difficulties. The Artificial Baits most in use, and which I con- sider the best, are the Pectoral-fin Baits, of which there are several sizes; the style of mounting I prefer is this: the bait runs loose on the gimp to which is attached the tail triangle, to the shank of which is fastened a drilled shot or bead, to prevent the bait slipping down on the hook. To the swivel above, is fastened by a piece of gimp of sufficient length to reach half-way down the fish, a 28 PIKE. triangle to fly loose around it; these are used with the ordinary trace. The next is the " Sensation" Silver Bait ; this is extremely bright in the water, and only requires an occasional polish to renew its lustre. It is a solid bait, spinning by means of the Pectoral-fin ; the body is scaled and has an extra twist to assist the spinning. The mounting consists of a triangle at the tail, and a fly-triangle on each side ; it may be used without any lead on the trace, as it will be found sufficiently heavy, unless for very rapid water ; I have taken many good Jack and Perch with it. The Spoon and Otter Baits are also good killers, more especially in lake?. There are various other artificial baits, but the above are the most successful. In lakes or in large rivers, a Colossal Artificial Fly with two large hooks at the tail and another concealed in the wings, is sometimes used for large Pike with much success. It is managed in a similar manner to the spinning-bait, but without any weight on the line, and is worked on or near the top of the water. I have found the Pike-Gag a very useful implement ; of great assistance when disengaging the hooks. It shuts up like a pair of scissors, and when in use, the points AA in the sketch are inserted in the mouth of the Pike which can be opened to the required extent, by means of the bows, which fit on the finger and thumb. The Gag is kept open by means of the steel extender B the teeth of which are made to catch on the screw C, but when' not in use this portion shuts up on one limb of the Gag, the notch D fitting on the screw E and keeping it secure. The Pike-Gag can also be used as scissors, being very strong and sharpened for the purpose. The manner of throwing the Spinning-bait as already been described in " Trout-fishing." When weeds are found within six or eight inches of the surface the bait should be skimmed, as it were, nearly along the surface of the water. This may be accomplished by using fewer shot, a light bait, and keep- ing the point of the rod well elevated. Generally speaking, it is not of vital importance which way you spin the bait, so PIKE. 29 that you do it well and steadily ; just sufficiently fast to keep the bait revolving in an attractive manner, at about half the depth of the water without fouling weeds, but not so rapidily as to make its speed greater than that of the fish pursuing it. Its revolving motion, undoubtedly, makes it exceedingly attractive to fish of prey ; from whom it pro- bably appears to fly madly for its life, although it possesses none. Make it therefore no difficult task for the Pike to overtake your bait and seize it with facility. Although the Pike will very often hook himself, still it is better to strike with a short and moderately strong jerk of the wrist, as soon as the bait is taken. The following directions for landing a Pike will be found in the "Guide to Spinning and Trolling" to which the reader is referred for more detailed descriptions of tackle, &c. : "We will suppose that you have now hooked your fish, which will if it be of any size, require careful handling. Do not be in a hurry to land him. More fish are lost by the nervous feeling which shoots through the young Angler, when he feels the first rush of a Pike, than by any other course, whatever. Keep the point of your rod well raised and the line taut ; if he makes for a bed of weeds and pulls hard, give him line, but still try to turn him by holding the rod the contrary way, and endeavour to lead him back to the place from whence he started Now he strikes off again ; let him go ; now wind him in again, but do not distress your line by keeping it too tight on the fish. He now makes shorter journeys, and seems inclined to come to shore ; hold him a little tighter, and feel if he will allow you to raise and show him, but be collected and careful. If fishing from the shore, try to lead him to the nearest opening in the rushes. Keep your line free, for he will possibly for a few moments be more violent than ever, as if he were determined to break the strongest tackle. Give him a few turns more, and he will be quiet enough. Now draw him again in shore, * * * keeping the head a little raised above the surface of the water so that the nose or gills may not hang to, or catch hold of weeds, &c., * * * If you have a friend with you with a landing net or gaff-hook, your prize is easily landed, but if you are 30 alone, and without a gaff, then draw him as close as possible and keeping the line tight, grasp the Pike behind the gills, and throw him up a few yards on the grass." DISHING for Jack with a Live-bait, and a cork float attached to the line, is certainly the most popular, as it also is undoubtedly the easiest. The small amount of _^ labour required is probably the cause of many preferring It, as it allows them frequent opportunities of resting, when they arrive at a still, quiet place, either in rivers or lakes. The spinning-rod of mottled cane will do equally well for live baiting, using a stiffer top. Many anglers use the wooden winch when live-bait-fishing ; when you have a run (as a "bite" is termed in Jack-fishing) and the rod is lying on the ground, it has the great advantage of allowing the line to run off freely, otherwise it is necessary to leave a few yards of line loose on the ground, to allow the Jack, after taking the bait, to run to the haunt where he feeds, without hinderance ; a rod-rester to keep the rod from the ground, is very useful. For live-baiting I prefer a fine line, as it will float for a con- siderable time, and is consequently less liable to become entangled with the bait (it will float better still, if it be rubbed with strong palm oil). The line should be from fifty to eighty yards, of prepared plaited silk. Always have a line long enough at first, for when in constant use, and with the occasional strain on it, of a twelve or fifteen pound Pike, besides the friction of the rings, you will find it necessary to break off, now and then, a yard or two from the working end, to keep it in good order. The Float I use is of the following shape, with a hole entirely through it ; the line being run through, push in a small plug, as in the sketch : PIKE. The next requirement is th'e Trace of moderate sized yellow gimp, and furnished with two swivels, and a dip- , lead to sink the bait. The Hooks are n of two descriptions, single and double. The single Hook, which should be about this size, ^may be used either by hook- ing the bait through the side of the lips, or by pass- ing it under the back fin, taking care not to insert it too low in the fish, or injure the bone ; as the bait would then soon die. The double hooks range in sizes between ^^^^ these two : 111 accoi> d- ingtothe L J size of I the bait; ' * do notj have the gim , too stout. To use the double hook : place the loop of the gimp on the hook at the end of the baiting-needle, enter the point under the skin of the bait on the shoulder, and close behind the gills, bringing it out near the back fin, draw the gimp, from which you remove the needle, till the bend of the double hook is brought to where the needle entered. The loop is then fastened on the hook-swivel at the end of the Trace and the bait is ready for use. When passing the baiting-needle under the skin, do it carefully so as not to wound the flesh, or remove the scales unnecessarily ; the bait will then swim nearly as strong with the hooks as without. When fishing weedy places, be careful always to remove any small weeds that become attached to the hooks when drawing the bait out of the water. 32 PIKE. uu Live-Bait. Double Hook and Baiting Needle. PIKE. 33 The Paternoster of which a full description is given in " Perch-fishing " is a first-rate tackle for use amongst weeds where the live-bait with float would inevitably become entangled ; it should either be all gimp, or a gut line with gimp hooks ; arranged as in the accompanying sketch of a Pater- noster in miniature. The baits that live the longest, and are therefore best for a journey are Thames Gudgeons ; they are a strong hardy fish, and will not require the water to be changed so often as others do. Dace, small chub and roach are equally good, but require fresh water oftener than gudgeons. To carry the live baits you require a kettle, which should be a full-sized one of zinc, or japanned tin, with sqiiare ends. When at the river side, and it is not in use, keep the kettle in the water out of 5 the sun, tying one end of a cord to the handle and the other end to a peg, which you can stick in the ground. The best time for live-bait-fishing is when the heavy weeds are rotten. From October till March, Pike will take a live bait more freely than at any other time of the year. Fix the float at the proper distance from the bait, as a general rule, not less than three feet but often considerably more ; to 5 fish a hole of ten feet in depth, tolerably clear of weeds at bottom, I should fish about seven feet deep ; that is, I should have the float that distance from the live bait. Begin by dropping in the bait gently near the shore, always keeping as much as possible out of sight, if after a short time you do not have a run, make a fresh cast further out, and to the right or 1 left. When you take the bait from the water to throw it to a fresh place, draw it slowly and gradually to the surface for that purpose ; I have often found Pike when not much on the feed, strike at a bait which seemed to be escaping from them. PIKE. Try all the still parts and bends of the river, pools, H LEGER BARBEL AND BREAM. 47 "Traveller" is annexed, showing the gut "stop" knotted in the line. To fish a Barbel swim successfully, it should be well ground- baited the previous day with lobworms. If it is an eddy or al- most dead-water, these may be thrown in without mixing with anything else, but if there is much stream, the greater portion should be made into clay balls, thus : take some clay (which may be generally found in the river bank) and working it into large balls, press a good-sized hole in each, fill with worms and stop it up tightly. Throw these towards the head of the swim ; the worms working out are sure to be carried far enough down by the stream, whereas, if thrown in without clay as some writers recommend, they would soon be washed anywhere but where you wanted them. The following day, when you commence fishing throw in about twenty or thirty lobs (each being cut into about four pieces) sufficiently above where you fish to allow the stream to work them down the swim. Remember that the bait should always be in advance of the float, and as little line as possible in the water between it and the top of the rod. It must be evident, that when the float is swimming first and dragging the bait after it, the shot must come first against the nose of the Barbel ; and even if he should see the bait, he has to take the trouble to turn round and swim after it ; not only disturbing his own equanimity, but probably up- setting the little domestic arrangements of some other greedy old epicure, who, had you not interfered with the first old gentleman would have remained very quietly sucking in the juicy little morsels like a city Magnate over his turtle, till a fine luscious lob sailed stately down towards him ; he would then gently have opened his leathery mouth and allowed it quietly to glide in ; discovering, to his sorrow, when you proceed to disturb his balmy reveries abruptly with a sudden jerk, that " all is not gold that glitters " Therefore to prevent any such unfortunate contretemps, and to ensure a good day's sport as far as lies in your power, pro- ceed in a careful manner. Should you be fishing from a punt, with the wind blowing slightly up-stream, your task will be so much the more easy. By raising the top of the rod and allowing the line to run out slowly, you keep it as 4g BARBEL AND BREAK. taut as possible to the float, which will then point up-stream; while the tackle will swim in advance of it, the bait, naturally being first. If the wind is blowing down the river, the stream at the top is impelled faster than the stream at the bottom, and the float must be managed accordingly ; always regulating the line so that the bait shall be in advance. After a few fish have been taken, throw in some more chopped worms, but not too many ; and be particular, to calculate as near as possible when you throw in the first instalment of worms, what distance they will be carried by the stream before they reach the bottom. Do not spread them about, but draw the fish as much to one part of the swim as you can. If the water is very clear it will be better to keep them ten or fifteen yards below you ; they will bite better and for a longer time by being kept at a distance. Strike directly the float goes down and play your fish carefully so as not to disturb his late companions in the swim ; proceeding in this manner and throwing in a few chopped worms occasionally, to keep the Barbel together, success is certain. Always, of course, pro- viding that the place has been ground-baited the previous day, and that you do not overdo it while fishing. It must be evident that as each fish can only eat a certain quantity, by throwing in too much at once, you probably satisfy the greater portion and then wonder why they will not feed, when your bait is rendered almost invisible by the cloud of worms you have sent in. But throw in about twenty chopped small, and there will probably be a scramble amongst the shoal attracted by the prospects of an El Dorado of lobworms; prospects which your large deposit of ground-bait of the previous day would seem to warrant. What are eighty little bits among a shoal of Barbel waiting for a fresh banquet ? Presently, down comes a bonne- bottche in the shape of your bait ; it is immediately pounced on by an unsuspecting gourmand, who to the astonishment of his confreres, immediately departs in an extraordinary manner for the upper world. Another goes in like manner, and so on through the shoal, a very few chopped worms serving to whet then* appetite ; until the few that remain have been rendered too shy by the continued hooking and disappearing of their friends. BARBEL AND BREAM. 49 Making due allowance for the lightness of the tackle, be particular to strike hard enough; the mouth of a Barbel being very leathery, a sharp jerk is required to fix the hook firm. Lose a fish and you disturb the swim, and unless they are very strongly on the feed, they will take a little time to recover from their fright. 'HE Leger is very good when the water is colored, or if you are fishing ground of too uneven a nature for the float ; such as the side of a tumbling-bay or similar place. It is made in the following manner : a long- shanked No. 1 gut hook is attached to the leger line, the bottom part of which is composed of two pieces of gut, so as to leave the bait about a yard below the bullet ; at the upper end of the gut is a small swivel, above which is a foot of yellow gimp, on which the bullet runs, a drilled shot being on the gimp next the swivel to act as a stop to the .bullet. Many Barbel fishers use a leger-hook of this description : about two inches from the end of the shank of a No. 1 gut hook, a small lip hook is whipped on the gut ; when the lob- worm is threaded on the larger hook, the worm is drawn up the gut and the head is placed on the small hook. When legering, many Barbel take the head of the worm and I have caught numbers with the small hook which I should probably have missed had I not used that useful little addition ; the worm also is kept much straighter than when without it. To use the Leger, we will suppose that the place has been well ground-baited as before described. If you are fishing from the bank, throw the Leger lightly and steadily a little across and down the stream, as near as you can to where you suppose the ground bait has collected. Lower the point of the rod, holding it in such a manner as to keep the line taut to the point of the rod, so as to be able to feel the slightest bite, and remain perfectly quiet. The bite of a Barbel at a Leger may perhaps be best described as a double knock, two distinct little jerks directly following each other, and requiring an instantaneous strike in reply. If you do not have a bite in ten minutes or so, draw up and make a fresh throw, longer or shorter, according to cir- cumstances, but always in the direction of the ground-bait ; 50 BARBEL AND BREAM. first examining the bait to see if some part of the hook may not be exposed. I have practised this style of fishing with great success in parts of the Thames where it would have been extremely difficult to use a " traveller," owing to the rough state of the bottom ; but where, nevertheless, I picked out some heavy Barbel with the Leger ; ground-baiting with the clay balls. Greaves is sometimes a good bait and may be used either with float or Leger, in either case the stream should be slow to allow the bait to lie on the bottom. Greaves should first be broken in pieces with a hammer and requires soaking some time in water ; some recommend that it should be boiled a short time, constantly stirring it, to prevent it burning. To baft with it : select the whitest and put four or five small pieces or a long narrow strip on the hook, so as to cover the bend up to the point ; the hook should be smaller than that used with a worm. Ground-bait with the rougher pieces but use very little. Cheese is used in a similar manner. The stream must be very slow ; before you commence, throw in several pieces cut to the shape of dice, for ground-bait. It is used in the follow- ing style with the ordinary fixed float : plumb the depth, setting the float about two feet deeper, so that the bait and shots may lie on the bottom straight down the stream, and then proceed the same as for legering ; the float will show the bite. Barbel are also angled for, with the ordinary fine roach tackle baiting with gentles; and are sometimes taken of great weight. They are frequently caught foul when fishing with the Leger, through swimming over the line ; the angler supposing it to be a bite, strikes, and often hooks the fish. f F Bream, there are two sorts, the Silver Bream and the Gold or Carp-Bream ; the first of these gradually loses its brilliancy after it exceeds the weight of a pound and becomes of a dark smoky hue ; this being the common one most found in ponds and deep rivers. The Bream is a very broad, flat fish, the head and mouth small, the eyes large, and the tail exceedingly forked. It spawns towards the latter end of May ; the best months for angling for them BARBEL AND BREAM. 51 being from July to October, in deeps where there is a clayey or sandy bottom. I have known the Bream to attain a weight of eight pounds, Blakey says that in the North of Europe, they reach twenty pounds, but I fancy these giants are some- what apocryphal. The best baits are lob, marsh, and red worms, gentles, paste and greaves. The rods and tackle have been described in the remarks on Barbel. The place you intend fishing should be well ground-baited the day previous; if you intend using the "travelling" float, it would be better at the same time, to ascertain the proper depth of the swim ; it will save time and trouble and prevent you disturb- ing the fish the following day, when you commence angling. Allow the bait to swim close to the bottom, strike directly you perceive a bite, (the float often rising up, instead of going down), and proceed as directed when Barbel-fishing. Bream- fishing in still water is pursued in a similar manner. Early in the morning and late in the evening are usually the best times. Indeed, one enthusiastic sportsman of my acquaint- ance camped out, in a tent, on the banks of the Ouse, for several nights in succession, so as to be at work with the rod sufficiently early each morning ; this, of course, was going rather to the extreme. I have had extremely good sport in the middle of the day. Walton-on-Thames is a noted station for Bream, large quantities being taken every season. I have also landed some very fine ones at Weybridge ; at Halidays Hole I caught sixteen weighing from two to six pounds each, in a couple of hours, with the Leger and lobworm. The Brearn is also taken with Roach-tackle, but requires some care in playing. He will try a variety of schemes to get away ; he will often turn sulky and hang to the bottom for some time ; then make a bolt under a bank, or into the weeds, if any should be near. If that does not succeed, he will come up sideways ; requiring some strain on the tackle to lift him, the great resistance to the water offered by his broad side causing the novice to believe that he has hooked a monster of the deep. When he rises near the surface, he turns over edgeways, the resistance is over, and, behold, it is but a Bream ! 52 CARP AND TENCH. CHAPTER VIII. CAEP AND TENCH. ; HE Carp is a beautiful fish in appearance, of a bronzy gold color, with large scales, and having two wattles under the mouth which is of small size. The fins and tail are of a dark hue, the dorsal fin extending over the greater portion of the back. Carp spawn about May, and are best caught from July to September; they have been taken in the Thames in January when the weather has been very fine. They prefer lakes and ponds to rivers, in some they grow to a large size. Salter mentions one he saw taken from the pond in Wanstead Park, facing Tilney House, this he says appeared much wasted from age, but weighed then eighteen pounds. In Germany they attain a still larger size, but I do not remember to have seen one in England that exceeded twelve pounds. They are an extremely shy fish, especially the larger ones, who seem to increase in craftiness as they do in weight and years. There is, however, no rule without an exception, for I have observed some splendid fellows in the ponds of the Palace Gardens at Versailles, who appeared to be perfectly tame, probably owing to being fed with bread crumbs by visitors. They are not numerous in the Thames ; though I know of a few artful old Carp, who inhabit a certain deep pool at Weybridge, who appear to glory in their extreme wisdom, and will roll over the line, and appear to bid defiance to the angler. Late in the month of July, 1858, on a hot summer's afternoon, I was Barbel-fishing in the eddy off Ham Point, Weybridge ; the water being quite twenty feet deep and as clear as glass. I did not so much as touch a Barbel, but took with my single rod, three mag- nificent Carp, weighing respectively eight, five, and four pounds; ten Eels, nine large Perch, and one Bream; the CARP AND TENCH. 53 Carp gave quite as much play as Trout. These were all taken with the lobworm, using chopped worms for ground bait. As a general rule, the redworm will be found the most killing bait, but they will at times prefer a well-scoured marsh worm or lob. The majority of Roach-baits also are used for Carp. Use a light stiff rod with fine running tackle and a light float, ascertaining the depth, if possible, the day before, when ground-baiting ; as recommended in the Chapter on Bream ; so as to keep out of sight when you commence fishing, and disturb the water as little as you can. Throw in a few chop- ped worms, occasionally, while angling ; fish on the bottom, and if in a stream strike immediately there is a bite, ; but if in still water, or a pond, wait a second or two, till the float goes steadily under and then strike gently, as Carp do not take the bait so qiiickly in deadwater as in a stream, where unless it be taken directly, it is carried away by the current and is gone. When you have hooked a good fish, use him gently and patiently ; giving him line, winding in and letting out, till he is exhausted. He is an exceedingly strong and artful fish, and will try every possible means to get round a post or a stump, or into the weeds so as to break the line. The grand secret in Carp-fishing is to keep quiet and fish fine. Some anglers expatiate on the great merits of boiled green peas and pieces of cherries, as very taking baits. One writer advises a worm and gentle to be used on the hook at the same time, so as to offer the Carp a choice of baits ; pro- bably, had he suggested that a green pea and a cherry be first placed on the hook, it might have been better still ; the Carp could then have taken vegetables with his dinner and dessert to follow. There is another species of this fish, termed the Prussian Carp, which seldom reaches a pound in weight; in shape and color is similar to the ordinary Carp, partaking very much of the nature of the gold and silver fish, and like them may be kept when small, in a globe. They are easily caught in ponds during the summer months with a small red or blood- 54 CARP AND TENCH. worm ; fish very fine, with a No. 10 hook and a very small quill float. It is essential that the bait should cover the entire hook and look fresh and tempting. Fish two or three inches from the bottom. f HE Tench is not so handsome a fish as the Carp ; it is short and thick, and when large, nearly as broad as long. The fins and tail are large and of a purple hue ; the scales are extremely small, of a dark greenish gold color and covered with a thick slimy matter. The Tench is a pond fish, thriving best in water where the bottom is weedy and muddy ; it is also found in rivers of a similar character, and is taken occasionally in some parts of the Thames and Lea ; spawning in May and June and being very soon in good con- dition. From July to October are the best months ; though if the weather be very warm, they are sometimes taken in March. During the winter they bury themselves in the mud like Eels. In favorable situations they have been known to attain a weight of nine pounds ; but this is of rare occurrence in this country and they will be seldom found to exceed four pounds although they grow fast. Tench, like Carp are exceedingly tenacious of life, and when packed hi wet grass or moss, may be carried long distances without danger of losing their lives. A clear redworm or small lobworm will be found the best bait; wasp-grubs, gentles and paste are also used. Tench require ground-baiting in a similar manner to Barbel. A light stiff rod, with running tackle, should be used, and if fishing in a pond, a small quill float and No. 8 hook with a redworm, or a size smaller for gentle or wasp-grub ; if the bottom is very muddy, fish an inch or two from it. Although the Tench is not a particularly shy fish, yet he bites slower than most others, sometimes remaining with the bait between his lips for a short time before taking it into hia mouth ; therefore do not strike directly, but let him take the float well down, or as he will often do, rise with the bait, and cause the float to lay flat pn the surface. When this occurs, strike smartly, but not too hard ; . playing him carefully, so as to keep clear of the weeds. CHUB. 55 In summer they may often be seen near the surface of the water, among the weeds and lily leaves, when they may be taken by dropping the bait into any little opening you may observe among the weeds. Fish with a stouter line and with- out a float ; with a shot or two about a foot from the hook to sink the bait sufficiently. When you feel or see a bite, strike sharply and land your prize as soon as possible, for in places of this description there will not be much space for playing. CHAPTER IX. CHUB. ALTHOUGH the Chub is not much prized for the table, still it is an handsome looking fish when in full season and fresh caught. Being a bold biting fish, struggling ^ gamely, it affords the angler much amusement ; taking the bait from July till March ; either at the top of the water with large flies, insects, moths and palmers, or at the bottom with greaves, bullock's brains, or the pith from the backbone. I have also taken very large Chub with the head of a lob- worm ; or a slug cut down the belly so as to show the white inside ; using them like a fly, early in the morning ; the splash the bait made on entering the water appearing pecu- liarly attractive. Chub spawn about May, and do not thrive well in stagnant ponds, though they do in ponds fed by a running stream, provided there are weeds that give a harbour for the breed of insects. They delight in still holes beneath overhanging bushes or roots, the sides of tumbling bays, fec., in rivers, retiring during the winter to deeper holes, preferring at all times a gravelly bottom. When small they are ex- 56 CHUB. tremely like the Dace in colour and appearance, except that the tail and dorsal fin are much darker than those of the Dace, the point of the tail being nearly black ; the mouth and head also are much broader. I have taken with a very large black fly (called a " Marlow Crow") Chub in the Thames above Marlow, weighing six pounds and a half; and in some parts they grow to eight pounds. BIBBING for Chub with a live Cockchafer or Beetle is very successful ; the horny covering of the wings should be removed. The Humble Bee and Grasshopper are also good baits for dibbing during the day, and a large white or brown Moth late in the evening. It is necessary in this stvle of fishing to hide as much as possible from the sight of the fish, behind a tree or bush. Use a stiffish rod, drawing off as much line as will just allow the bait to reach the water. If you are fishing through bushes, twist all the line between the point of the rod and the bait round the top ; and passing it through the bushes, untwist the line : with proper management the bait will fall naturally and gently on the surface of the water. Where there are wide leaves on the water it is as well to drop the bait on each one in succession, allowing it to roll in from each. Chub, in the summer, at mid-day, often lie concealed under such leaves, ready to take any insect that drops oif. If you see any fish, cautiously guide the bait towards the largest. When there are no trees, bushes or similar obstructions on the bank from which you are fishing, the winch-line should be of stout floss silk, and is technically termed a "blow line" ; to this add a yard or two of gut with the hook length attached. Stand with the wind at your back, hold the insect-bait lightly be- tween the forefinger and thumb of the left hand ; and letting out as much blow line as may be required, let go the hook and the bait will be carried by the wind the requisite distance across the water. The rod for this style of fishing should not be less than twelve feet in length and lighter than for ordin- ary dibbing. Observe to keep the blow line as dry as possible, or it will be too heavy, if wet. They are taken during the summer with the ordinary fly ARTIFICIAL COCKCHAFER PALMER MAR LOW CROW CATERPILLAR HUMBLE-BEE CHUB. 57 rod using red, brown or black Palmers, &c., in some parts of the Thames a large black artificial caterpillar is very successful. I have also taken som^very fine Chub with the Spinning- bait when fishing for Trout and Perch early in the season ; towards the latter end of spring, angling with a live minnow or small frog is sometimes very successful. ' HE best time to angle with bullock's pith and brains is i' from November till March. To prepare them for use, . Fa take the skin from the brains, washing in fresh water two or three times to clear them from blood, and until they become white ; the outside skin of the pith of the back- bone is very thick and tough, this must be carefully slit with scissors (so as not to tear the under skin), and removed. When this operation is completed, slit the underskin in like manner, from end to end of the piece, open it so as to lay it flat, there will then be skin on one side and none on the other ; the skin is to bind it to the hook. Wash clean, boil the pith and brains a minute, and they are ready for use. The Rod should be light and about twelve feet long if used from the bank, but may be shorter to use from a punt. With forty or fifty yards of fine prepared plaited silk line on a suit- able winch. The bottom tackle should be composed of three yards of fine gut line, a No. 5 hook, and a quill float of pro- portionate size to the amount of stream in the swim ; using as small a one as possible. Choose a gentle swim about six feet deep where there are willow bushes overhanging the water ; plumb the depth and fish an inch from the bottom, baiting with the pith and using the brains as ground-bait. Strike directly you see a bite, and handle your fish carefully ; if a large one, it will probably rush furiously to the opposite side of the river, directly it is hooked, give plenty of line, unless he is going to dangerous qxiarters ; put on a little strain and after his first or second effort, and a few plunges you may venture to bring him to the landing net. The usual method of ground-baiting with brains is by chew- ing and then blowing them into the water ; but as many anglers object to this, they may proceed in this manner : take a quantity of brains, either bullocks' or sheep's, clean 58 ROACH, RUDD AND DACE. them as before described, and pound them in a mortar, mixing afterwards with house-sand and a little bran. Throw into the water in small quantities occasionally whilst angling. If pith and brains connot be procured, bait with the whitest greaves, or paste, made of bread, old cheese and honey. CHAPTER X. ROACH, RUDD AND DACE. ''HE Roach is, in appearance, a handsome fish when in season, though, perhaps, one of the coarsest of the finny tribe as far as eating is concerned. It affords good sport, and requires some amount of skill to catch ; al- though by some writers it is termed the "water sheep" and easily to be taken : but in reality it requires a quick eye, fine tackle, and a steady hand, and much practice, before anyone can pretend to be a good Roach Angler. Roach spawn in April and May, during which time the scales are very rough, the fish being sickly and keeping among the weeds, on which they feed, as well as on the insects found thereon. They are in good season from July till March, but the winter months are generally the best for angling for them, especially after a flood when the water is recovering ; the larger ones have then left the weeds and remain in the deep water, and not having so much living food about them will more readily take the bait. Their scales are then very smooth and large, of a dark bluish green color on the back, lightening into a bright silver nearer the belly ; the under fins are a bright red ; the back fin and tail of a dusky red, tinged somewhat with purple. They are seldom taken heavier than two pounds ROACH, BUDD AND DACE. 59 though I have taken them in the Thames weighing two pounds and a half; and have known them to reach three pounds, but these leviathans are very scarce. One great desideratum in Roach-fishing is that the angler should know something of the water that he intends to fish ; and then to choose a swim where he can fish with comfort, according to the state in which the water may be at the time. Roach do not approve of very rough water, but are more generally found in steady swims of a moderate depth and with a sandy or gravelly bottom. When angling in rivers choose if possible, a swim -that is rather shallower at the end, because when the ground-bait separates, the principal portion lodges there and consequently keeps the fish together in a better manner than it would do if the swim was not so con- veniently adapted to retain it, but allowed it to be entirely washed away by the action of the stream. It is also by the judicious use of ground-bait, and fishing at the proper depth, that one angler will be more successful than another, who may be using the same description of bait, the same quality of tackle, and fishing at a very short distance from the first one, though not with the like success. One of the most clean and simple ground-baits and at the same time one with which I have had the best sport, is made of bread and bran ; the crust of a quartern loaf being cut off, soak the crumb in water till it is well saturated, squeeze it nearly dry, then placing it in a pan or similar receptacle, add the bran by handfuls, kneading it well together until the whole is almost as stiff as clay. This requires some little time to make but will amply repay the angler for his trouble. In rivers like the Thames, when fishing from a punt, the ground-bait should be worked into balls about the size of a moderately large turnip, and it there is much stream will probably require some clay mixed with it to increase the weight and bind it together ; or the insertion of a stone is sometimes requisite, so as to ensure it sinking instantly at the head of the swim when dropped over the side of the punt. In ponds and small rivers the ground-bait balls should be used smaller. An excellent addition to this description of ground-bait (although many object on account of the scent) is a quantity of carrion 60 KOACH, RUDD AND DACE. gentles ; after the bread and bran are well mixed with some clay and formed into balls, press a hole in each with the finger, and before throwing the ball into the swim fill the hole in the ground-bait with gentles and close it tightly. In eddies and still waters a handful of carrion gentles alone, thrown in are very useful ; but if there is much stream, it is evident that the gentles being light must be carried away directly they reach the water ; whereas if they are worked into the ball, this sinks directly and they then find then- way out oradually and keep the fish about the swim. Potatoes are also used for ground-bait, they .should be boiled till soft, and gently squeezed before being thrown into the swim. fjfrf HE Rod used for Roach-fishing from the bank should be from sixteen to twenty feet in length, of light and stiff cane, sharp in the strike and not ringed ; if it is to be used from a punt, should possess the same qualities but should be from ten to eleven feet only. For a rod of this latter description it is safer to have rings, tolerably close together (so as not to allow the line to hang too loosely from the rod) as it not unfrequently happens that a Barbel makes his appearance in the swim, when unless the angler is pro- vided with running-tackle, he stands a very fair chance of losing his fish. The running-line should be the very finest plaited silk (prepared with india-rubber varnish) and should be from thirty to forty yards long, on a small multiplying winch ; or if the angler chooses, a plain winch. In the Lea, however, the true Roach fisher scorns rings to his rod and trusts to his skill alone to enable him to land safely his finny prize. Most Lea-fishers keep an inch or two of fine silk line tied to the end of the top-joint, and fasten the gut or hair line to the silk by means of a draw-loop knot; this is a better plan than fastening the line directly to the rod, as the latter is apt to chafe the gut or hair. The Roach- line should be of the very finest blue gut, in length about three yards, although many prefer the same length of horse hair ; this however is becoming rapidly superseded by the extra-fine gut, which, besides being less than half the sub- stance, possesses five or six times the strength. ROACH FLOATS QUI LL O 2 < _i Q t SQUARE & ROLL PLUMMETS. CORK QUILL ROACH HOOKS pppnn (1 ROUND-BEND SNECK-BEND ROACH, RUDD AND DACE. 61 The size of the Hooks varies considerably, some experienced anglers using them as large as No. 6, whilst others never use anything larger than No. 11 ; a medium size about No. 9 will generally be found the most useful. As regards shape, this is very much a matter of fancy, the very fine round bent hooks requiring great care in use as it is impossible for them to have very much barb and the skin of a Roach's mouth being very tender the fine wire is apt to work out or cut its way through if the fish is large or gives much play ; they are however much used by those anglers who prefer fishing with hair, whilst those who use fine gut generally prefer the bright sneck, a short square shaped hook, extremely sharp, with a good barb. The best and neatest Float is the taper quill ; though for rough work, a very thin cork is very useful. Roach floats are of all sizes from those carrying half-a-dozen shots, to some for use in heavy water, and which require thirty shots or more. Observe, to shot the line so that a very small portion only, of the tip of the float is left above water, for Roach fre- quently bite so very fine, that without attending to this you will probably miss the chance of two bites out of three ; neither should the float be larger than is actually necessary, although it must be obvious, that in fishing some of the deep swims in the Thames, where there is a strong steady current, unless the angler has a tolerably large string of shot his bait will not reach the bottom until it arrives at nearly the end of the swim ; therefore always match the size of the float as near as possible to the degree of current in the river you intend to fish. Plumbing the depth is performed in the following manner : if using a roll plummet, as it is termed, (which is simply a small roll of thin sheet lead about an inch wide) unroll about two inches from the end, lay the. hook in, and roll up the plummet again ; your hook is then secured. This, is not so. good as using the ring plummet, the hook in this instance being passed through the ring, and the point inserted in the cork at the bottom of the plummet, which may be either taper, like a sugar-loaf or square ended. As success in Roach-fishing depends much upon angling at 62 ROACH, RUDD AND DACE. the proper depth, take pains to ascertain the depth accxirately before you commence fishing; when the plummet touches the bottom, and the tip of the float is even with the surface of the water, you have obtained the true depth. It is better when angling for Roach or any other fish which require ground-bait, to allow the line to remain in the water with the plummet on the hook, while you are casting in the ground bait ; so as to stretch and soften the line and render it, con- sequently, less liable to break, as gut and hair will frequently do when dry and stiff. It is also a good plan, to dip the line above the float, occasionally, in the water for the same reason. Having discovered the correct depth, commence fishing with the bait almost touching the bottom ; if without success, alter the float so as to fish shallower, that is, with the bait two or three inches from the ground ; if still unsuccessful, vary the position of the float still more. During very warm weather Roach occasionally swim nearer the surface, and then some- times take the bait better at midwater than at bottom ; but as that does not often occur later in the season, commence with the bait nearly touching the ground. They may also during the summer months be taken with a fly, using it below the surface and without a float ; put on one small shot to sink the bait, drawing it gently up and down till you feel a bite ; the .Roach generally taking it as it approaches the surface. It often happens in Rivers, from opening the locks, altering the run of water in the mills, and from various other causes, that the depth of the water is changed, therefore if you have been enjoy ing good sport and it should suddenly cease (which it will probably do, if you have lost the proper depth) then try the depth again. The Baits are somewhat numerous; paste, liver-gentles, worms, creed malt, rice, &c., of these the two first are the best. In making the paste it is absolutely necessary that the hands should be very clean, otherwise the paste will be discolored ; take a piece of the crumb of a loaf the day after it is baked, dip lightly in water, immediately squeeze it as dry as possible, and placing it in the left hand, knead it with the thumb and fingers of the right, till it becomes exceedingly ROACH, RUDD AND DACE. 63 smooth and stiff. This is, when well made, the best paste for Roach, and they seldom refuse it at any time of the year. Many add a small quantity of honey, in this case the bread will not require dipping in water. Some also prefer a pink paste, this is made by mixing a small 'quantity of vermilion or red ochre with the one first mentioned. The Cadis is also a good bait, and should the angler be fishing any water where this bait is plentiful, at the time when it is leaving its shell, he will probably find that the Roach will take nothing else, this being then their natural food. At other times a small redworm or a portion of the tail of a small lobworm will be found successful ; note, when using these, to ground-bait with a quantity of a similar description of worm chopped up into small pieces ; instead of the bread and bran, which should be used when paste is the bait. In the same manner as the carrion gentles are added when liver-gentles are used on the hook, the fish, as is often the case, appearing to judge from outward appearance only, and therefore preferring the well-fed aldermanic individual moving along in grand state on the hook, to the dirty canaille who are swept along with the stream. Yet with Roach as with all other fish, the water may appear in good order, the wind in the right quarter, and everything else equally favorable, but the fish will not take the bait, let it be ever so tempting. The disappointed angler declares that " they are not on the feed " the simple fact being that by a natural instinct, they appear to expect, at certain seasons of the year, and in certain conditions of the water, some particular natural food which is in the water; whether in the shape of decomposed weeds, grubs, cadis or other insects not easily to be discovered. To fish with one gentle, enter the point of the hook (which should be No. 10 or 11) near either end, bring it out at the other, and drawing the point back again sufficiently to conceal it ; pursue a similar method if using more than one. A larger hook No. 8 or 9 is required for a worm, to bait with which enter the point of the hook near the head of the worm, which must be worked gently on to the hook with the thumb and finger, while the right is gradually working the hook downwards ; a small lively piece of the tail may be left moving about, but if 64 ROACH, RUDD AND DACE. too much hangs loose, the fish may nibble but will seldom take the whole in their mouths, and the angler will be annoyed by finding part of the worm gone but that he has missed his fish. Always keep the top of the rod over the float, and sufficient- ly high to prevent any slack line touching the water, so as to to strike lightly but quickly (the motion coming not from the arm but from the wrist) the moment you observe the least movement of the float, either by it being drawn under, or thrown up a little. Do not strike too hard ; for the Roach, being a tender-mouthed fish is hooked by a very slight jerk. When you have hooked a fish, raise the top of the rod and place a slight strain on him by lowering the butt, by playing him thus he will soon be ready for the landing net, an article which will be found particularly useful if fishing from a high bank or where the fish run large When fishing from the bank with a twenty-feet rod and a tight line, it will be neces- sary, of course, to remove the butt and large joint to bring the fish within reach of the net. ' HE Rudd is similar to the Roach in shape and color ; only that it is rather broader and the body and gills are ting- ed with a golden bronze. The under-fins and tail are a bright red. They seldom exceed a pound in weight, and thrive best in ponds and still waters with gravelly bottoms; spawning about April. Angle for them at bottom the same as Roach ; with a fine gut or hair line, No. 9 or 10 hook and a light quill float. Bait with redworms, gentles or paste j ground-baiting as usual. ' HE Dace is a handsome shaped fish, the body long and of a bright silvery color ; the scales and fins small, the latter being of a yellowish tinge. The largest I re- member to have seen was taken in the Thames near Hampton, with a worm, and weighed exactly one pound, The river Colne is also noted for Dace of a large size, a great many being taken near West Drayton. They are a sharp-biting fish and therefore require striking quickly ; frequenting, during the summer mouths, shallows, ROACH, &UDD AND DACE. 65 rapids, and eddies, when they afford good sport to the in- cipient fly-fisher; indeed, they are about the best fish to initiate him into the art and mystery of that science. The young angler will find capital sport during the fine summer's evenings on the banks of the Thames, using the black gnat or golden palmer on the shallows about Isleworth, Twickenham or Hampton, fishing from the towing path, The house-fly, red, black, and brown palmers, blue-duns and gnats, are all killing flies for Dace, and may be rendered still more so, by the addition of a gentle on the point of the hook ; or instead of a gentle, a thin strip of light yellow kid leather wound round the hook, from the tail of the fly nearly to the barb. In the autumn they retire into deeper water and may be taken with the same rod and bottom-tackle as Roach ; the same baits also may be used. In summer they prefer the gentle ; in the autumn and winter, paste and worms. The best months are from July to December. Large Dace are often caught while fishing for Barbel late in the summer, with the tail of a lobworm ; when this occurs, it shows that there are beginning to feed lower down and to discontinue rising at the fly. In shallows of two or three feet in depth, such as lie in the angle of two streams or where a brook enters a river, or between the runs at a mill tail, where there is a kind of eddy or backwater, Dace are usually found waiting for any unlucky insects or worms that may be brought down the stream ; in such places work the bait from four to six inches from the bottom ; a small redworm will be found very killing. The same ground-baits mentioned for Roach are equally good for Dace, but it must be remembered that when ground-baiting for Dace, you are at the same time performing the same kind office for nearly every other description of fish, and you are just as likely to take Barbel, Roach or Trout. As an instance I might mention that I was Dace-fishing, early one morning, a small stream in Kent, using the gentle and fishing very fine with running tackle ; in a very short space of time I landed two brace of Trout, each fish over a pound (a large size for the stream in question), several good-sized Dace, a Perch and some Gudgeons ; the only ground-bait I used was carrion-gentles, sprinkling a few in occasionally a 66 ROACH, RUDD AND DACE. yard or two above the swim, which was about five feet in depth ; the bottom line was the very finest gut, and the float a small taper quill carrying half-a-dozen small shots; this was in the month of June, the weather was extremely hot, and it was only for an hour or two early in the morning that there was a chance of doing anything. And here I must remind the young practitioner, that al- though with Roach, Dace and other fish which require ground bait, this is necessary to draw the surrounding fish into the swim, yet it must be used with judgement ; not throwing in at once a sufficient quantity to satiate all the fish for half a mile down the water, but just sufficient to bring them into the swim ; and as long as they continue on the feed, a very small quantity thrown in at intervals will suffice to keep the shoal together. The best plan is to ground-bait the place overnight if poss- ible, with a similar description of bait to that you purpose using the following day ; if you intend fishing with gentles, use the bread, bran and carrions mixed with a little clay ; if with worms, then a couple of hundred or more worms should be chopped small and thrown in a few yards above where you intend to fish. It will also be found a good plan when fishing with worms to throw in a clay ball or two containing worms, the same as used for Barbel. EEL, LAMPREY AND LAMPERN. 67 CHAPTER XI. EEL, LAMPREY AND LAMPERN. 'ELS are found in rivers, canals, docks,