66 LONDON ANGLER'S BOOK, 



friend feels assured that the fish took the fly in the 

 regular way, while some person was whipping for 

 Dace. 



Another friend (Mr. Benjamin Fowler) some years 

 ago near the Armoury Mills, Waltham Abbey, took 

 a Barbel about 5lbs. while trolling for Jack, with a 

 Gudgeon, the bait was gorged in the same way as 

 would a Jack. This will appear a most singular cir- 

 cumstance, but the gentleman who took the fish, as 

 well as others who witnessed the fact are now living, 

 and well known to most of the river Lea Anglers, 

 and their veracity may be fully relied on. 



Barbel should be angled for with strong tackle, 

 either with ledger line or with a float, the first men- 

 tioned way is generally practised where the current 

 is too strong for a float to live, you should have an 

 oval shaped perforated lead of sufficient weight to 

 sink and lie on the ground, about a yard of gut and 

 a No. 6 or 7 hook, or larger if you expect large fish, 

 about a foot from the hook, place a shot firmly on 

 the gut, and above the lead another about a foot dis- 

 tance, the lead will then move on the gut from shot 

 to shot, this enables you to feel a bite without the 

 lead being moved from the bottom ; when the Barbel 

 are on the feed, you cannot mistake a bite, for the 

 rod will be moved pretty perceptibly, strike hard and 

 be cautious, for you will have your work to do; 

 hold as hard against him as the strength of your 

 tackle will allow, keep him at play as much as pos- 

 sible, and take every advantage, for he will often 



