Perch. 



45 



made of pliable metal, which can 

 be bent after insertion to the 

 shape required. There are two 

 triangle hooks ; one fastens in the 

 side of the minnow, the other 

 hangs below the tail. The " Pen- 

 nell " flight has three hooks, a 

 single that passes through the 

 lips of the minnow, a triangle 

 which fastens below the dorsal 

 fin, giving the necessary twist to 

 the tail, and a third that hangs 

 loose. This flight puts a strain 

 on the bait, and the hold gives 

 way more frequently than is desir- 

 able. A lead is attached to the Pen- 

 nell flight which passes through 

 the mouth into the body, but it is 

 not pliable and is only intended 

 for weight. If a flight of hooks 

 without a spear or lead is used, 

 the trace must be shotted to sink 

 it. Weirs or mill tails and such 

 places are suitable for minnow 

 spinning. The lure should be 

 drawn across the current. Fishing 

 straight down stream, the force of 

 the water carries the minnow to 

 the surface, where it splashes 

 about, and is more likely to scare 

 fish than attract them. Com- 

 mence at the top of the stream, 

 and cast towards the opposite 

 side. The force of the current 

 will keep the bait spinning. When 

 it comes round towards you, draw 

 it up through the slack water. 

 Perch are more likely to be taken 

 on the sides of the rapid than in 

 the full strength of the current. 

 Food washed down is thrown off 

 into the slack, and in such places 

 fish are on the look-out. Round 

 the margin of deep pools should 

 be carefully tried. When perch 

 are on the feed they move into 

 the lighter water, where a wob- 

 bling minnow is likely to tempt 

 them. The moment the bait is 

 stopped the line should be tight- 

 ened by raising the top of the rod. 

 The cause will be soon apparent : 

 if a weed, there will be passive 



resistance ; should it be a fish, 

 active. He is not likely to escape 

 the array of bristling hooks that 

 cover the bait ; there is no need, 

 therefore, for hard striking it 

 courts disaster ; a firm tightening 

 up of the line is all that is neces- 

 sary. Play your fish steadily, 

 and don't be in a hurry to land 

 him. He will come to the sur- 

 face before he is ready for the 

 net, in all probability. There are 

 many fish lost by premature at- 

 tempts at landing, and not a few 

 within a yard of the net. If he 

 happens to be hooked lightly and 

 not played out, a final plunge at 

 the last moment is certain to give 

 him liberty. On the other hand, 

 a lightly-hooked fish played until 

 there is not a kick left in him often 

 finds its way to the basket. 



Next to the natural bait come 

 artificial spinners, of which there 

 are many patterns. A small hog- 

 backed spoon is good for rivers. 

 Rapids are favourite places to use 

 it, and on the edge of deep pools 

 it will be frequently taken. The 

 glitter of the spoon can be seen 

 where a minnow would not be 

 noticed. A small Devon is an 

 excellent bait, and the leaded 

 pattern sinks well in deep pools. 

 A phantom is an old favourite. 

 It is light and can be used in 

 rapids without getting fast in the 

 bottom. There are sure to be 

 deep spots unknown to you where 

 perch lie, and a phantom sweep- 

 ing across proves irresistible. 



The partiality of perch for 

 silver-bodied flies is well known 

 to trout anglers. In fishing Irish 

 loughs I have taken them up to 

 i Ib. On more than one occa- 

 sion, whilst playing a trout on the 

 dropper, or middle fly, the weight 

 of the rod was suddenly increased, 

 a perch having taken the leader. 

 I have sometimes managed to 

 land both. Fly devices have be- 

 come a regular part of perch 



