Perch. 



43 



the bottom, allowing the bait to 

 sway about in a way likely to be 

 seen by the perch. The line must 

 be kept taut, ready for striking, a 

 moment or two after the bite is 

 felt. A few heavy shots securely 

 closed on the gut may be substi- 

 tuted for a bullet. This prevents 

 the possibility of chafing, which is 

 one of the disadvantages of using 

 a leaden weight, and which not 

 infrequently leads to trouble. 

 Both these methods of fishing 

 can be used, with a minnow for 

 bait instead of a worm. A fine 

 round-bend hook is the best pat- 

 tern for this purpose, hooking the 

 minnow through the upper and 

 lower lips in turn. Perch seize 

 the bait crosswise, and, like the 

 pike, turn it head downwards. 

 Sufficient time should be allowed 

 for this purpose before striking. 

 Minnows are delicate bait, and 

 must be carefully dropped into 

 the water; they should not be 

 moved about more than is abso- 

 lutely necessary. Most tackle- 

 makers keep them in stock, and 

 the large species are the best. A 

 small gudgeon is not a bad sub- 

 stitute, but big perch will not 

 scruple to take a dace or roach 

 when it comes their way. A 2lb. 

 specimen is a fine fish on light 

 tackle ; it gives exciting play, and 

 needs careful handling. A free- 

 running reel is necessary to re- 

 lieve the strain. Without this 

 safeguard short work would be 

 made of fine gut. 



Paternostering is the most 

 popular method of perch-fishing. 

 It is certainly very deadly, and 

 can be used in places where a 

 float or ledgering is scarcely pos- 

 sible ; any few feet of clear space 

 among weeds can be negotiated 

 by this means. The gut should 

 be of a fine round quality, from 

 4 to 5 ft. in length, according to 

 the depth of the water. A plum- 

 met, to which a finer short length 



of gut is attached, is used for a 

 sinker. A conical shape is better 

 than a round one, as being less 

 likely to fasten in the weeds. 

 Half a foot above the plummet 

 a 4-in. length of gut is attached 

 to the trace, above a knot or by 

 means of a loop, so that it does 

 not slip down. Fifteen inches 

 higher up a similar link is placed. 

 To these a No. 6 hook is tied, on 

 which different baits are mounted. 

 A lob worm on the bottom and a 

 minnow or small gudgeon on the 

 top are a good combination. Thus 

 equipped, any likely spot on the 

 river should be fished. Perch, 

 like pike, are found in clear 

 spaces amongst the weeds, and 

 close to reeds and rushes by the 

 bank. Eddies near swift rapids 

 are likely places to hold them. 

 Under the shade of an overhang- 

 ing willow is a favourite haunt, 

 and whenever there is a deep hole 

 into which food is likely to be 

 washed, there is the chance of 

 coming across a good specimen. 

 Drop the plummet in quietly and 

 let it sink until it touches bot- 

 tom, roll up the slack, and await 

 developments. If the perch is at 

 home he will make his presence 

 felt by a sharp pull on the trace. 

 A moment or two afterwards the 

 strike should follow by quickly 

 raising the top of the rod. If 

 much time is given, he will have 

 the bait off the hook, as the hold 

 is very slight and the minnow is 

 tender mouthed. Lowering the 

 top of the rod when the first touch 

 is felt takes off the strain, and 

 assists the perch in turning the 

 minnow. If there is no sign of a 

 bite, the paternoster should be 

 moved a few feet further up or 

 down stream. Patience must be 

 practised ; it will bring its reward 

 in due time. 



Playing a hooked fish needs 

 care ; he will plunge about vigor- 

 ously for a while, but with the 



