4 ANGLING FOR COARSE FISH. 



full of oxygen and very invigorating. At the end of two or 

 tliree weeks they gradually work into water of a slightly greater 

 depth — 2ft. to 5ft. — where the stream is lively; but barbel 

 very quickly take up their quarters in their regular haunts, 

 which are for the most part weir pools, mill tails, deep holes, 

 and eddies under clay banks. Chub, also, show a preference 

 for swims under banks, especially those overshadowed by trees 

 (having a weakness for insect food) ; but the majority of coarse 

 fish do not move into deep water until about the end of 

 July, and even then will often be found in only a few inches 

 of water if the weather is very hot and the stream undisturbed 

 by boats. Until the middle of August gudgeon remain in 

 very shallow water, in the stream, and are most plentiful in 

 swims bordering deep holes; but later on the largest ones are 

 caught in swims 9ft. or 10ft. in depth. Tench and carp do 

 not shift their position much during the summer, and are to 

 be found mostly in moderately deep swims, close to weeds. 

 Bream, also, dwell in deep holes, where the current is gentle. 



The great thing to look for when fishing in the summer 

 for roach, dace, perch, gudgeon, and pike, is a stream. Many 

 anglers spoil their day's sport by fishing quiet comers where 

 the water is still, and where there are no fish, except a few 

 tench, eels, and a possible jack. Another thing to be borne in 

 mind is that most fish will be found near and among weeds 

 which give them shelter, and among which lies a large pro- 

 portion of their food. The ideal swim for stream-loving fish 

 during the hot months is one with weeds all round it, the 

 bottom of soft, sandy gravel, the depth 5ft. to 10ft., and the 

 stream moderate. And note well, that what I mean by a 

 moderate stream is one moderate for any particular river. 

 A moderate stream in the Thames would certainly be termed 

 immoderate in the Bedfordshire Ouse, which runs for the 

 most part sluggishly. 



About August coarse fish begin to get into first-rate 

 condition, and are found in somewhat deeper water than in 

 the month preceding, but their exact position depends a 

 good deal on the height of water and the character of the 

 river. Rivera usually run fastest in the centre of their 



