ON SMALL FISH, PRINCIPALLY USED AS BAITS. 285 



The best, indeed the only good Gudgeon bait, is the 

 worm, and of worms by far the best is the brandling. 

 Any small worm, however, will do if brandlings cannot 

 be obtained. It will generally be found that the lower 

 half will be better than the whole worm, and that fewer 

 bites will be missed when the hook is thus baited. The 

 only ground bait which I am acquainted with that is of 

 any use for Gudgeon is small broken worms, mixed with 

 soft clayey mud, which will dissolve rapidly on reaching 

 the bottom, and will cause a thickening or muddying of 

 the water. This result, however, is much better 

 achieved by raking the bottom of the river before, and 

 occasionally during fishing, with a long, heavy iron 

 rake, which Is kept by all Thames puntsmen for this 

 purpose. The Gudgeon are attracted by the animalculae, 

 worms, caddice, &c., which are turned up In the 

 operation. 



While Gudgeon fishing, It is a very good plan to put 

 out a paternoster (see p. 238) for any Pike or Perch 

 which may be roving about, and v/hose presence would 

 effectually check the " biting" inclination of the smaller 

 fish. 



In the lower reaches of a river flounders are not un- 

 frequently taken whilst Gudgeon fishing, the same baits 

 and modes of fishing being best for both fish. 



The Gudgeon spawns In May, usually In shallow 

 waters amongst stones. 



