bottom or float fishing. 223 



Shot. 



The shot should be sufficient to submerge about three- 

 fourths of the length of the float ; and their position on 

 the line should be regulated according to the nature of 

 the water. In still water, the bulk of the shot should be 

 about two feet from the bait, a single small shot being 

 placed midway, to insure the bait Itself sinking with 

 tolerable certainty and rapidity. In rivers where the 

 stream Is deep or strong, It will commonly be found 

 most convenient to place the shot about a foot above the 

 hook with a single shot midway as before. 



The object being to " cock" the float, and at the same 

 time sink the bait to the required depth, these points 

 being attained, of course the further the shots are away 

 from the bait the better. A few medium sized shot show 

 less than a number of small ones. 



" Nottingham Fishing." 

 One portion of what is known as Nottingham fishing is 

 the throwing fro7n the reel — trusting, that Is, to the weight 

 of the bait and float, and the impetus given by casting, 

 to draw off from the reel, as the line is thrown, as much 

 of the latter as may be required for each cast. For the 

 reasons already given with reference to the application 

 of this method of casting to Pike fishing (p. 185), I con- 

 sider it in every way a mistake in theory, and, as 

 applied to light float tackle, usually an impossibility in 

 practice. 



