FLOAT-TACKLE. 25 



the bottom. The accompanying sketch (Fig. 13) shows the 



position of the float in the water and the tackle beneath it. 



It will be noticed that the line passes 



/ through a ring at the bottom of the float, 



/ and is kept in position by a cap, usually 



H,/ of quill or indiarubber, which encircles 



P ^ the top of the float. The best float-caps 



I know of are made of a material resembling 



oilcloth. The float shown is one of the best 



for roach-fishing in rivers. It is made of a 



piece of goose-quill, stopped at the bottom 



with the end of a porcupine-quill. The top 



should be touched with red paint. The 



lowest shot should be usually a little above 



the length of gut on which the hook is 



tied (9in. or lOin. from the hook), and the 



others about 9in. higher. Five shots are 



„ ,, shown in the engraving, but the exact 



Fig. 13. Typical . . ^ ^ "^ \ ^, , 



Float-tackle. number, of course, depends on the buoy- 



ancy of each particular float, and can 

 only be found by experiment. A float should be always looked 

 upon as a necessary evil, and should be as small as the stream 

 will allow. The size of the float should depend on the amount 

 of lead one has to put on the line to keep the hook near the 

 bottom. The faster the stream, the more weight is required, 

 and vice versa. As a matter of fact, it is wiser to regulate 

 the float to the shot, rather than the shot to the float. In 

 perfectly still water anglers sometimes use no weight on the 

 line at all, the float being what is termed a self- cocking one — 

 i.e., weighted at the lower end. A piece of lead wire wound 

 round the lower end of any float makes it self- cocking. A few 

 shot, or a little quicksilver, are sometimes placed inside a float 

 made of two pieces of quill ; this also causes it to cock without 

 any shot being on the line. When no weight is used on 

 the line, the bait, of course, sinks slowly and naturally. The 

 tackle shown in Fig. 13 is suitable for many kinds of 

 bottom fishing in moderate streams. In stronger streams, more 

 shot, placed nearer the hook, and a larger float, should be 



