240 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



Perch are swept. Such spots abound on the Thames 

 and most large rivers. In the Thames, the best Perch 

 water I know is just below the paper-mills at Temple, 

 near Marlow. Here, after the first heavy flood, the 

 Perch collect in astonishing numbers ; and I remember 

 on one occasion, when fishing this pool with the late 

 Tom Rosewell and Mr. H. R. Francis, killing some 

 twelve dozen Perch with the paternoster in a few hours. 

 The water was then still slightly clouded from floods. 



The Weirs are the great places for the paternoster in 

 summer, as the Perch then collect in the rapids and 

 rushes of water to scour and brace themselves after 

 spawning. The modus operandi is as follows : — The rod 

 and tackle being arranged as described, and the lead 

 hanging 6 or 7 feet from the top of the rod, the baits, if 

 the water to be fished is within the length of the rod, 

 should be gently dropped or lowered down till the lead 

 rests on the bottom ; if, however, the desired spot is 

 further off, the baits, after a slight pendulum-like move- 

 ment, are lightly cast — or rather " swung" — into it, and 

 the line drawn in until it is stretched straight between 

 the lead and the rod-top. Every half minute or so the 

 position of the bait should be shifted a foot or two by 

 lifting the lead and drawing in line ; a sharp twitch will 

 indicate a bite, when the point of the rod should be 

 instantly lowered a little so as to slacken the line some- 

 what, and prevent the fish prematurely pricking himself. 

 The attack being repeated, and — as it usually happens — 



