272 AN OPEN CREEL 



tackle generally used for his destruction, tackle that 

 might cope satisfactorily with salmon. Hooked on 

 roach tackle at a considerable distance, as is usually 

 necessary where the water is shallow, the bronze fish 

 is no mean opponent, and is quite likely to get the best 

 of it. In this case the first fish ran out line steadily at 

 a good round pace for nearly twenty yards, and then 

 began the heavy boring which is such a test for drawn 

 gut if it is at all frayed. Before the issue was decided 

 one way or the other the top of the leger-rod began to 

 bend, and a second contest was in progress. Both fish 

 were a long way from the boat, and there was a risk 

 that the lines might cross, in which case disaster was 

 certain. However, the leger tackle was stouter than 

 the other, and the second fish was played without 

 yielding an inch of line, brought firmly in, and netted 

 as quickly as possible a good bream of three pounds. 

 Then the other began to weaken, and gradually yielded 

 to the steady strain, eventually being netted after a 

 fight that had lasted several minutes, a fish of three 

 and three-quarter pounds, which is a large one for the 

 district. This was a good beginning, and it was 

 followed up by a remarkable run of sport. Fish after 

 fish entered the net, first from one rod, then from the 

 other ; often both had one on at the same time. And all 

 were of good size, ranging from two and a half pounds 

 to nearly four pounds. In point of number the leger- 

 rod came out ahead with a total of nineteen, but the 

 float tackle caught all the biggest fish ; its eleven 

 victims averaged over three pounds each. About a 

 quarter-past seven there was a catastrophe : the hook- 

 link, frayed with its hard work, parted, and a fish 



