280 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



The Bleak is so common throughout England in 

 most rivers producing Roach and Dace, that any detailed 

 description of its characteristics would be superfluous. 

 Nor is it likely to be confounded with any other fish, as 

 it is the only one of our fresh-water species which in 

 shape is narrow as w^ell as flat — in other words. Sprat- 

 like. Bleak derive their name from their shining white^ 

 scales, in which, like a girl in her first ball-dress, they 

 seem to be never weary of glancing to and fro, and 

 coquetting with the midges as they flit out their three 

 hours' existence over their native stream. Accordingly, 

 any small fly bearing a sufficient resemblance to these 

 insects will commonly take Bleak in greater or less 

 abundance, especially if a gentle is added on the Ijook- 

 point ; but the best method of Bleak-fishing is as 

 follows : — Select a light fly-rod and line, a collar of the 

 vejy finest stained giLt^ with a No. i hook {see '^. ii), and 

 at about two feet from the hook fasten a small round 

 piece of cork, about the size of a large green pea, to act 

 as a sort of float. Choose a swim where Bleak are 

 rising — which if they are there, they will be tolerably 

 sure to do — and having buried the small hook in a single 

 large liver gentle, take a quarter of a handful of bran, 

 and after giving it one quick squeeze under water, so as 

 not quite to soak the whole of it, cast it into the water 

 some ten yards or so from the shore or boat, and imme- 



* From a northern word signifying to bleach or whiten — blik^ Danish ; 

 blick (Swedish and German) " glance," " glimmer." 



