24 ANGLING FOR COARSE FISH. 



the loop in the gut at the end of the float or other tackle, 

 to the running line, is shown in Fig. 12. 



Horsehair is most useful for roach and 

 gudgeon lines. It is not so strong nor so fine 

 as fine-drawn gut, but I have long been of 

 the opinion that the fish are less suspicious of 

 it than of gut. Hair is superior to gut in 

 being elastic, long, and neither glistening when 

 new nor fraying when old. The best horsehair 

 comes from the tails of stallions. That obtained 

 at violin bow-makers' is sure to be good. I 

 prefer light brown horsehair to any other. Hair 

 may be tied with the same knot as gut. If 

 the angler is fishing Nottingham fashion, with ' 



his float at some distance, he should not use ^^qf "^attaching 

 hair, on account of its elasticity ; but when Gut-tackle to 

 fishing under the point of a long, stiff rod, as 

 do the London roach - fishers, the elasticity is a decided 

 advantage. 



There are two methods of weighting a line — with split shot, 

 or with lead wire. The former are more commonly used. 

 They can be split with a small, inexpensive machine made 

 for this purpose, or with a penknife, if half sunk in a small 

 hole in a piece of wood. They are usually bought ready 

 split. They are either bitten on to the line, or pinched on 

 with pincers. If the line is fine, whether gut or horsehair, 

 it should either be double where the shots are placed, or be 

 served round with silk. Lead wire answers as well as shots. 

 To fix it, lay a darning-needle, or long pin, alongside the 

 line, and twist the wire round both needle and line. When 

 enough wire has been twisted on, withdraw the -aeedle, and 

 twist up the coil tighter. 



Float-tackle and Floats. — Having purchased rod, reel- 

 line, and hooks, the next thing to buy, or to make up — ^for 

 the making up is a very simple matter — is the gut or hair 

 line, on which are the hook, float, and either split shot or 

 some lead wire, used to partially sink the float in the water, 

 and keep it in a perpendicular position and the bait near 



