I20 THE PERCH. 



the bottom and always keep the line as tight as possible. 

 All sorts of places can be searched by a ^atemoster, but 

 more particularly those places where the stream is deep and 

 strong, with a clear and wide expanse of water. When fish- 

 ing among the roots and under the boughs I prefer a float 

 tackle with only one set of hooks on, and this float can 

 either be a stout pelican quill or a small Nottingham cork^ 

 or the little pilot as before mentioned. Three or four fair 

 sized shots are distributed on the tackle at intervals, the 

 lowest one a foot or so from the hook. For hooks them- 

 selves I have a preference for the same as described on the 

 paternoster, and baited exactly the same way. The float 

 tackle is arranged so as to suit the depth of water, but I 

 should say if you can anyway hit it, if the bait is a foot to 

 I Sin. above the bottom, you stand the best chance. The 

 minnow is swum down by the edge of the boughs, or quietly 

 insinuated into any opening large enough among the roots,, 

 and the draw or strike should be made as soon as you feel 

 the first pluck of the fish. 



Fig. 19. The Devon Minnow. 



One of the best day's perch fishing I ever had was down 

 the Witham, fishing the boughs in this manner. I got 

 fifteen perch going nearly a pound apiece on the average^ 

 and three very decent chub, besides losing a few owing to 

 some veiy awkward places I tried in. A very simple plan 

 of carrying live minnows down to the river is by putting 

 them in a bottle among some clean cold water, one of those 

 sodawater bottles " without a bottom," as Andy called them,. 

 is as good as anything that can be employed ; a half-pint 

 bottle will accommodate two dozen minnows very well. 

 Cork them down and slip the bottle in your side pocket; 

 they will live very well corked down in a bottle. I suppose 



