220 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



Bottom-fishing is divided into two classes : the old 

 style, or ordinary bottom-fishing, and the new style, or 

 *' Nottingham fishing." These two methods of float- 

 fishing differ mainly in their details of manipulation. 

 And as by one or other of them are principally taken 

 all coarse river and pond fish, except Pike, a preliminary 

 description of each system will save repetition in the 

 succeeding chapters. 



Ordinary Bottom Fishing 



Is practised with a rod, line, and float ; split shot 

 being attached to the line at a distance of from one 

 to two feet above the hook to sink the bait, and partially 

 sink — Anglice, "cock" — the float. Sometimes a reel and 

 running-line are used, and sometimes not ; but the former 

 plan has this advantage, that whilst a reel and running- 

 line are never really in the way, their absence is often 

 attended with serious practical inconvenience and loss 

 of fish. 



Rods. 



All sorts of rods are used according to the fancy of the 

 angler, but the general rod already described (p. 51) con- 

 tains all that is necessary ; and indeed by a change of 

 butts and tops embraces varieties of length and stiffness 

 adapted to every description of bait and circumstance. 



Lines. 

 The best and cheapest reel line for ordinary bottom 



