64 THE angler's guide. 



him from the current into deep and still water as soon 

 as possible, and play him till he has quite lost his 

 strength, before you attempt to land him, which will 

 sometimes occupy near half an hour, if a very heavy 

 Fish, and you are fishing with a gut line and float, and 

 small hook : but be not afraid, though your hook is 

 small ; for, when fairly fixed in his strong fleshy lips, it 

 will never draw. This makes Barbel fishing so plea- 

 sant to a good Angler, when angling with such fine 

 tackle as above described, and killing a game Fish 

 under the point of his rod. 



Before you begin to angle for Barbel, throw in 

 plenty of ground-bait, (you can hardly give them too 

 much,) and continue to do so frequently, while fishing 

 for them. The best ground-bait is made with soak- 

 ed greaves, bran, and clay mixed together, as directed 

 in page 26. A large quantity of worms, chopped 

 into pieces, mixed with clay and bran, are likewise a 

 good and very enticing ground-bait, especially if 

 thrown in the night before. 



The seasons to fish for Barbel, and where. 



The Barbel feed from March till November, all the 

 day, but best in the morning and evening : indeed, the 

 chance of success increases with the coming night. 

 They will even bite all night, and will feed very freely 

 after rain, when the water is thickened a little. 



Barbel are frequently caught foul, that is, hooked 

 by some part of the body instead of the mouth, with- 

 out their biting; for when they are swimming or 



